RIYADH: The arrival of the Thaqeba excavator to dig tunnels as part of the first station project on the Al-Olaya/Al-Batha line, which will see the completion of 50 percent of deep tunnels, is enough evidence that 29 percent of the Riyadh Metro project has been completed, the Arriyadh Development Authority (ADA) has said.

“The Riyadh Metro project has seven mega excavators to dig tunnels around the clock. Each tunnel is 90 to 120 meters long with a diameter of 10 meters,” local media reported Sunday, quoting ADA sources.

The underground tunnels are 41.7 percent of the total length of the project. This includes the 12.9-km King Abdulaziz line from King Abdullah Road to the King Abdulaziz Historical Center.

About 3.3 km of the King Abdullah Road line will be underground, while the middle part of the 17.3 km Al-Olaya/Al-Batha line will consist of one tunnel that will extend from Al-Murooj neighborhood to the Qasr Al-Hukum area.

Quashing rumors that the project might be affected due to the low oil prices, the ADA urged people in the King Fahd neighborhood to see for themselves the arrival of the Thaqeba excavator at the first station. It also called on the German ambassador and a delegation from the American Embassy to visit the site.

The ADA has said that the SR86 billion ($23 billion) project will be completed by 2019 as per schedule.

Alwalid Alekrish, director of construction Development Projects and project director of Riyadh Metro, was quoted as saying by a news agency that the 176-km metro project will not be delayed.

He said they are working in the same manner despite the decreasing oil prices, and paying the contractors on time. “The operations of Riyadh Metro, with six lines and 85 stations, will start by 2019. Electric trains without drivers are being developed as part of the operations.”

Alekrish said the implementation of the project is as per schedule and that they did not receive any instruction otherwise.