The Riyadh Metro project is being constructed in Riyadh, the capital city of Saudi Arabia. It is a part of the Vision 2030 strategy of the Saudi Government. The 176-kilometer long rapid transit system is going to be fully operational within 2021. The Riyadh Metro will include 85 metro train stations, some of which will be available this year (2019). The whole Riyadh Metro project is expected to cost over $22.5 billion. Multiple construction companies are working together to complete this huge transit project. These companies include Samsung, FCC, Nesma, Almabani General Contractors, Salini Impregilo, Bechtel, Strukton, and Larsen and Toubro. The Riyadh Metro will not only revolutionize the transport system of Riyadh but also will serve the ever-increasing population of this region, which is expected to have increased to 8 million by 2030.
Riyadh Metro Project
Top five amazing facts about the Riyadh Metro Project, Saudi Arabia. We describe about the project of Saudi Arabia.
Construction Period and Structure Size
The governor of Riyadh Prince Khaled bin Bandar started the construction of the Riyadh Metro on the 3rd of April with a groundbreaking ceremony. The construction is expected to take over five years with 30,000 workers working simultaneously. It is expected to have a length of 176 kilometers. This rapid transit system will include 85 metro train stations. Although the full capacity of the Riyadh Metro will not be available for use until 2021, it will open partially this year (May 2019).
Riyadh Metro Construction Cost
The full construction of the Riyadh Metro will require $22.5 billion. It will consume around 600,000 tonnes (600,000,000 kilograms) of steel, which is almost 80 times more than what the Eiffel Tower consumed. The project will also require 4·3 million m3 concrete, which is 11 times more than what the tallest tower in the world, Burj Khalifa, consumed. The Riyadh Metro will include all types of modern technologies and amenities. All of the metro train stations of the rapid transit system will be air-conditioned.
Fund Raising for the Project
The main source of the funds collected for the construction of the Riyadh Metro is the Public Investment Fund administered by the government of Saudi Arabia.
Purpose of the Construction
There is no doubt that the rich Arabian country Saudi Arabia is competing with the rest of the world with its mega-structures. But the purpose of the construction of the Riyadh Metro is much more than just showing off. Riyadh, which is the capital of Saudi Arabia, is one of the fastest-growing cities in the world. The city already is burdened with over 6 million people. Moreover, the population is expected to see an increase of over 2 million by 2030. So, the government of Saudi Arabia is very much concerned about the transport system in the city. This concern led them to the idea of building the Riyadh Metro. The trains will have different packages divided into first, family and single class accommodation. So it will be able to grab the interest of people from all walks of life.
Corruption Allegations
On 4 November 2017, Turki bin Abdullah Al Saud was accused of awarding the construction contracts of the Riyadh Metro to his own companies. He was serving as the deputy governor of Riyadh Province from 2013 to 2014. He was the seventh son of the late King Abdullah bin, Abdul Aziz. Later on, he was arrested.
