New law to boost investment in public transport sector

The Council of Ministers has approved the rules and regulations of the Public Transport Authority (PTA), which is to organize the country’s public transport system and take measures to attract investment in the sector.
The Cabinet meeting, chaired by Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, also endorsed another law for social care. The law explains the role of social care homes in providing accommodation and care to those deserved them.
According to the new law, the PTA would be an independent organization financially and administratively and linked to the minister of transport. Its headquarters will be in Riyadh. “The PTA will regulate and supervise public transport services and try to improve its standard while reducing unnecessary expenditures. It will also encourage investment in the sector in line with the Kingdom’s economic and social development objectives,” a Cabinet statement said.
The new law is significant as it comes at a time when the Kingdom has decided to launch advanced public transport systems in Riyadh, Jeddah, Makkah, Madinah and Dammam, spending billions of riyals.