During his meeting with the business sector in Asharqia Chamber, the head of Public Transport Authority said that the first phase of public transport is going to be introduced in the city of Dammam in November.
The Authority: the launch the electronic platform "Bayan" is beginning next year 2019
The head of the Public Transport Authority, Dr. Rumih Bin Mohammed Al-Rumaih, announced that the first phase of public transport in Dammam will be launched in November. The main lines would be connecting Dammam and major cities such as Khobar, Dhahran, Qatif, Ras Tanura and others.
Also, the electronic licensing platform will be launched next Sunday to facilitate licensing procedures, as well as the launching of Bayan electronic platform would take place at the beginning of the new year 2019, which is a platform to link the driver data to the vehicle.
He pointed out that the Public Transport Authority is keen to support investors, fight concealment and prevent dumping or monopoly,
He stressed that the Authority's main objective is to attract investments to the sector in line with the vision of the Kingdom of 2030 that to be a global logistics center.
Al-Rumaih emphasized that the Authority is responsible for the reorganization and legislation of the transport sector in accordance with international standards through providing safe, effective, integrated and environmentally friendly public transport in all regions of the Kingdom.
This would be providing an efficient, high quality, cost-effective transport environment based on the latest technologies and investment opportunities in the transportation industry.
This came in a meeting with His Excellency in Asharqia Chamber with the business sector of the region, on Wednesday 31 October 2018.
The meeting was attended by the Chairman of the Chamber Abdul Hakim bin Hamad Al-Ammar Al-Khalidi, the Chamber Vice President Hamad Bin Mohammed Al-Boali, the Board members, and Ibrahim Al-Sheikh, Chairman of the Industry and Energy Committee, Najib Al-Sihati, Dari Al-Otaishan and Bandar Al-Jabri, Abdul Rahman Al-Suhaimi and Ahmad Al-Muhaidib, as well as the Secretary General of the Chamber Abdulrahman Al-Wabel, and a large number of businessmen and businesswomen and interested individuals in the public transport sector.
Al-Rumaih presented the Authority's initiative in the National Transition Program 2020 by saying, "It represents an integrated policy program for the development of the transport system through the preparation of studies and regulatory policies for the transport sector, and the development of the requirements and specifications of the transport and its means, as well as the preparation of plans for public transport networks of a number of cities in the Kingdom."
He pointed out that the objective of the strategic initiative is to raise the efficiency and effectiveness of the performance of the transport sector in connection with the objectives of the vision of the Kingdom 2030, in terms of improving the quality of services and enhancing the effectiveness of financial planning and efficiency of government spending.
He said that this initiative falls under a number of projects including the development of public transport systems for five cities in the Kingdom through the preparation of public transport plans for these cities in coordination with the relevant authorities to implement them.
It also includes the renovation of the public transport system on the roads, the study of the liberalization of the intercity bus transport market and the development of policies related to the determination of the wages of public transport, in addition to specification and security equipment for public transport systems.
Al-Rumaih gave a full presentation on the progress of the implementation of the initiative projects during the current year.
He pointed out that 95% of the development of transport systems was completed within the city of Tabuk, while 75% of the study of the development of public transport systems within Al-Baha city and linking the main governorates in the region was completed, in addition to the study of the economic benefits of public transport, and the project of transporting passengers by sea between the eastern and western coastal cities and islands for the procedures of placement and education.
Moreover, the Chairman of the Chamber, Abdul Hakim Al-Khalidi, said that the public transport sector is one of the most important sectors with comprehensive development, and that upgrading its level represents a standard or indicator of the level of urban development in countries. He noted that the progress of countries is often measured by the extent of the progress of transport.
Al-Khalidi stressed that the Public Transport Authority plays leading roles both in reorganizing and legislating its activities or providing the sector with national cadres, which is consistent with the objectives of comprehensive economic and social development. Therefore, it will undoubtedly contribute to the creation of a regulatory and investment environment conducive to the business sector, "which is indicating an integrated industry of the public transport system."
Furthermore, Bandar Al-Jabri, the member of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Logistics Committee, said that the public transport sector is a key pillar in achieving the vision of the Kingdom of 2030, by providing the sector of logistics services to various other productive and service sectors, as well as providing several opportunities to work in front of the national workforce, and other promising prospects for local investors as well.
Al-Jabri pointed out that the Public Transport Authority is introducing new regulations or returning them to the drafting of old regulations that is in line with the economic developments that is taking place in the country, as well as its keenness on private sector participation in the renovation and development procedures. This represents a real translation of the objectives of the vision of the Kingdom of 2030 and reflects the economic mobility that is sufficient to make a quantum leap in the public transport system in the Kingdom. This in fact also is to establish a national industry based on the principles of partnership with the private sector, which will certainly contribute to the Kingdom's economic growth and provide a high quality and professional transport system.
At the end of the meeting, Abdul Hakim Al-Khalidi, the Chairman of Asharqia Chamber, honored the speaker His Excellency the Chairman of the Public Transport Authority, Dr.Rumih bin Mohammed Al-Rumaih with a memorial shield.
