Focus on environment as Riyadh unveils new projects

JEDDAH: New plans to build a 1,447-km-long floodwater drainage system in the Riyadh region and expand its sanitary water network by 3,755 km were unveiled on Monday.The announcement followed a meeting of top officials involved with Riyadh’s strategic development, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.Riyadh Gov. Prince Salman chaired the joint meeting with the High Commission for Development of Riyadh and Executive Committee for Projects and Planning for the City of Riyadh.About 100 new development schemes will be implemented in the Riyadh region in the next 20 years, said Ibrahim Al-Sultan, head of projects and planning center. Projects include a light rail, a public bus system, and two additional belt roads, SPA said, citing the official.The belt roads will be 120 km and 150 km long, the report said.The updated plan for the Riyadh region highlights the needs to create 770,000 jobs for Saudi nationals and build 550,000 housing units by 2028, according to the report.Al-Sultan said the comprehensive strategic plan, adopted eight years ago, had produced satisfactory results.He said environmental development of Wadi Hanifa formed a key part of the new initiatives. – Arabnews