When the Riyadh Metro Project was launched four years ago, many were skeptical about the project’s viability. They thought that it was a big challenge that was beyond our potentials. They became more skeptical after seeing road closures, detours and traffic jams.
To calm these fears, the Higher Authority of the Riyadh City Development, which is supervising the project, issued several statements assuring people that these issues were temporary and would become things of the past after the completion of the metro project.
Despite these assurances, fears persisted but the authority reaffirmed its stand on more than one occasion and said that awareness and understanding of the Riyadh inhabitants would make them tolerate these hardships to get rid of the traffic crisis.
Today, I could safely say that the authority has succeeded in its risky venture. Being on the threshold of the 4th year, people are beginning to realize that the mission wasn’t impossible after all. Although the mission is challenging, our young men, with their skills, experiences and love for this city are capable of bringing this project to a happy end. It is natural to have some delay in the execution due to the nature of this huge venture.
During these years, the authority has been responsive to the appeals and the Saudi youth overseeing the project were quick enough to correct shortcomings immediately and finding solutions and alternatives for every problem. Due to this effective communication, we became assured that the authority knows its job well and how to manage it in a professional and scientific manner.
The project is nearing completion, but still there is more to do. But simply imagining our city with its fast underground train, easy transportation system and smooth traffic movement make us all the more enthusiastic.
As such, we say to the authority and our youth to continue this mission because we understand the big goal, and whatever are the hardships, we are ready to bear them because our city deserves more from every one of us to make it more beautiful and easy to live in.
Since the announcement of the Saudi Vision 2030, preparations are underway to bring about organizational transformations aimed to achieve a set of public or private goals relating to the function of any organization or ministry.
Specifically, the Ministry of Transportation has been subjected to such measures and decisions at all the levels. Restructuring has taken the form of correcting some flaws in the work mechanism.
The first challenges, which I believe that the ministry should deal with, should concentrate on re-organizing the relations with its partners — contractors, consultants and other stakeholders. This means adopting a well-planned mechanism for bids, their follow-up and implementation. Once this issue is solved, the ministry should organize payment of claims.
In fact, the payment issue has caused headache for many of these partners. We all know that the Kingdom is passing through a very delicate stage due to the economic transformation, which requires cooperation from all parties. But this cooperation requires transparency and clarity so that everybody could join in achieving the country’s goals, which couldn't be isolated from the interests of these partners, their projects and investments.
These partners are passing through a period of uncertainty. Some are closing down their businesses due to delay in payments. Others are firing their workers. This situation can’t continue as such. It needs urgent remedy.
Hopefully, those in charge will be considerate and willing to solve problems and overcome hurdles. In the meantime, we consider ourselves their partners. Being partners and representatives of the people’s concern as newsmen, it is our duty to offer our expertise, ideas and suggestions that could contribute to achieving the required goals.
To calm these fears, the Higher Authority of the Riyadh City Development, which is supervising the project, issued several statements assuring people that these issues were temporary and would become things of the past after the completion of the metro project.
Despite these assurances, fears persisted but the authority reaffirmed its stand on more than one occasion and said that awareness and understanding of the Riyadh inhabitants would make them tolerate these hardships to get rid of the traffic crisis.
Today, I could safely say that the authority has succeeded in its risky venture. Being on the threshold of the 4th year, people are beginning to realize that the mission wasn’t impossible after all. Although the mission is challenging, our young men, with their skills, experiences and love for this city are capable of bringing this project to a happy end. It is natural to have some delay in the execution due to the nature of this huge venture.
During these years, the authority has been responsive to the appeals and the Saudi youth overseeing the project were quick enough to correct shortcomings immediately and finding solutions and alternatives for every problem. Due to this effective communication, we became assured that the authority knows its job well and how to manage it in a professional and scientific manner.
The project is nearing completion, but still there is more to do. But simply imagining our city with its fast underground train, easy transportation system and smooth traffic movement make us all the more enthusiastic.
As such, we say to the authority and our youth to continue this mission because we understand the big goal, and whatever are the hardships, we are ready to bear them because our city deserves more from every one of us to make it more beautiful and easy to live in.
Since the announcement of the Saudi Vision 2030, preparations are underway to bring about organizational transformations aimed to achieve a set of public or private goals relating to the function of any organization or ministry.
Specifically, the Ministry of Transportation has been subjected to such measures and decisions at all the levels. Restructuring has taken the form of correcting some flaws in the work mechanism.
The first challenges, which I believe that the ministry should deal with, should concentrate on re-organizing the relations with its partners — contractors, consultants and other stakeholders. This means adopting a well-planned mechanism for bids, their follow-up and implementation. Once this issue is solved, the ministry should organize payment of claims.
In fact, the payment issue has caused headache for many of these partners. We all know that the Kingdom is passing through a very delicate stage due to the economic transformation, which requires cooperation from all parties. But this cooperation requires transparency and clarity so that everybody could join in achieving the country’s goals, which couldn't be isolated from the interests of these partners, their projects and investments.
These partners are passing through a period of uncertainty. Some are closing down their businesses due to delay in payments. Others are firing their workers. This situation can’t continue as such. It needs urgent remedy.
Hopefully, those in charge will be considerate and willing to solve problems and overcome hurdles. In the meantime, we consider ourselves their partners. Being partners and representatives of the people’s concern as newsmen, it is our duty to offer our expertise, ideas and suggestions that could contribute to achieving the required goals.
