A metro rail system, which is a preferred mode of rapid transit across the globe, is said to be a “harbinger of prosperity”, once it is completed. And, it is true as in the cases of, New York Subway, London Underground, Paris RER and Shanghai Metro. All of them have become significant financial centres, after rapid transit systems were introduced in these cities. Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, is expected to swell to 12 million by 2020, double of its present population. And it is in desperate need of a metro system.
There are various modes of transportation within cities. The most common ones are by bus and rail. Light rail/tram systems are not possible in Riyadh, where the topography requires heavy infrastructure. There is the intracity bus service, SAPTCO, which is not really a successful venture. But, there are high hopes for the Riyadh metro to be an effective transit system.
I live in Riyadh and my school takes about 30 minutes to reach even without traffic. But, I always get stuck in peak hours of traffic. So another 30 minutes of my time is lost. I have to start from my home 1-and-a-half hours before the school begins. My classmates, teachers, dad’s office colleagues, company employers etc. all experience this very same problem. As the proverb goes, “Time and tide waits for none”. In these times, a metro comes in “very handy”. It surely saves valuable time of everyone living here.
Saudi Arabia is one of the few countries in the world, where women are not allowed to drive. It is very understandable and everyone, whether he/she is/isn’t a Saudi citizen, has to respect the laws here. Due to this constraint, women are allowed to venture out, only in the company of male. The completion of the metro, might bring more “social freedom” to them. There have been reports that some compartments might be “exclusive” only for women/children.
The stations for the purpose of changing trains have been selected conveniently. Olaya is a posh, financial area while King Abdullah Financial District is an upcoming “smart” city. A third one is also being planned. The six lines too have been effectively chosen as they connect prime areas of Riyadh.
An important feature of this metro system, which might not be included in other global cities, is the introduction of a minibus service which would serve residents who don’t have access to metro stations nearby. The minibus would take him/her to the closest station.
It is not necessary for me to elaborate on the environmental advantages of not only this metro system, but any other around the world. Renewable energy will be used for all metro stations. All of them will have sufficient parking space, WiFi facilities etc. But, I think another crucial feature is that this will reduce the no. of growing accidents in the city. Reckless driving and the problem of crossing the speed limit can be solved by using this metro.
To sum it up, the Arriyadh Development Agency says, “For every SR1 spent on Riyadh Metro, SR3 will be generated in terms of savings from direct and indirect costs due to pollution, energy consumption, road accidents, lack of efficiency, and lack of performance.”
Come 2019, Riyadh will usher in a “new age of unprecedented fortune, economic affluence and state-of-the welfare for its citizens”.
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