Riyadh Gov. Prince Sattam said 25 new projects in the municipality would be started. The prince was addressing a meeting of the Riyadh Provincial Council chaired by him at Al-Hukum Palace on Tuesday.
Deputy Riyadh Gov. Prince Mohammed bin Saad also attended the meeting.
The council's Secretary-General Suleiman bin Mohammed Al-Qannas said the meeting reviewed topics such as the improvement of services in educational, health and economic fields.
The meeting decided to set up an action team to study a quality grading system for private schools to help determine how much each could charge in tuition fees.
The meeting also discussed the improvement of the investment climate in the province to receive huge foreign and domestic investments accompanied by advanced technology. It also discussed ways to deal with the disadvantages of huge industrial investment projects.
Other new projects for the year included a flood management system, with a further SR208 million allocated for the completion of the existing 18 flood projects.
The meeting stressed the importance of training school staff to counter emergency situations and accidents in schools.
The meeting decided to take strong steps against road contractors who neglect safety precautions such as leaving unprotected holes on roads.
The council discussed the allocations and projects under the Ministry of Health. The province has been allocated SR1.63 billion for eight new projects this year. They include a 500-bed Prince Sultan hospital in Riyadh, 300-bed hospital in Al-Kharj, and two 200-bed hospitals in Al-Solail and Afif in addition to a medical tower in King Saud Medical City.
School projects in the province have been allocated more than SR1 billion.
The allocations to the higher education sector in the province include SR1.7 billion for a number of new projects at King Saud University, in addition to SR976 million to cover the increase in the cost of earlier approved projects in the university.
The university’s projects include designing and establishment of the Arabic Language Institute, recruiting outstanding professors from other universities, refurbishing of campus infrastructure, e-education and distance learning, designing and construction of infrastructure for the Riyadh Technology Valley and establishment of the college of tourism and antiquities. The projects for the year also include SR2.64 billion at Al-Kharj University.
The council also reviewed the allocations to Shaqra University where SR915 million will be spent on projects including campus infrastructure development, a medical college, sports facilities, a mosque, and women’s colleges. More than SR1 billion has been allocated to Majmah University.
