RIYADH — The steep fall drop in oil prices have no adverse effect on the implementation of the Riyadh metro which is progressing according to schedule, project manager Waleed Al-Akrash said adding that about 26 percent of the mega project have so far been completed. "The project will be competed on time according to its schedule. The fall in the oil prices have no negative impact of it," he said. The metro, within King Abdul Aziz Public Transport Project for the capital city, will cross a distance of 176 km every day going though the city's main districts and neighborhoods. Akrash said the project will make a quantum leap in the transport sector and its proceeds will be used to execute more development projects in Riyadh. He said about 800 Saudis are working in the various engineering, administrative and financial aspects of the project. Akrash said there will be 85 train stations covering the entire city particularly the commercial and the densely populated areas. "There will be 21 spacious car parking lots near the stations each accommodating between 200-600 vehicles at a time," he added. The manager said the metro will have six tracks which may be increased in the future if needed. He said the project is being implemented by a number of international consortiums which have implemented similar projects in Paris, London, Washington, Sydney, Singapore, Barcelona and others. Akrash said the price of the tickets is currently under study with a view to making it affordable to all the passengers.
