Shoura calls for effective public transport system

Arabnews - RIYADH - MD RASOOLDEEN - The Shoura Council asked the Ministry of Transport yesterday to take appropriate measures to reduce the volume of traffic on the roads by intensifying a systematic public transport system in major cities.

The suggestion was made by the members of the council, when the house discussed a presentation made by the Committee on Transport, Communications and Information Technology on the annual report of the Ministry of Transport for the fiscal year 1431/1432 AH.

Yesterday's session was chaired by Deputy Speaker of Shoura Council Muhammad Amin Al-Jafri. The members said such efforts to reduce the volume of traffic in major cities should be made to reduce the number of accidents, loss of life and property and to reduce environmental pollution.

The house said the public transport system should be efficiently organized to reduce the number of private cars plying on the road.

The committee also observed the lack of skills and dearth of required human resources compared to the size of projects increasingly implemented throughout the Kingdom. The other issues that caused concern to the members included errant motorists, non road-worthy cars and traffic congestion near road barriers.

The council's committee had met with representatives of various departments of the public and private transport sectors to get a first-hand information on various subjects related to the Kingdom's transport sector.

According to the annual report, the ministry had completed some 6,500 km of new road projects in the Kingdom. The ministry would soon complete work on 19,059 km of roads.

Commending the achievements of the ministry, the Shoura Council urged the ministry to make suitable arrangements to ensure that proper materials are used in road construction in accordance with the Bill of Quantities (BOQ) specified by architects.

The council also encouraged the utilization of solar power for lighting roads to reduce consumption of electricity.

The house also showed concern on damage caused to roads by heavy trucks.

Shoura Council Secretary-General Muhammad Al-Ghamdi said the house approved most of the articles of a draft agreement between the Kingdom and Argentina.

The agreement was on political consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and Cultural Rights in Argentina.

On a recommendation made by the Committee on Economic Affairs and Energy, the house also approved a draft agreement for cooperation between the Kingdom and Argentina in the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

The draft accord containing 14 articles includes project frameworks underlying the promotion of scientific, technical and economic cooperation between the two governments.

During a discussion on the annual report of the Presidency of Religious Research and Fatwa, the house reviewed the manner in which fatwas are issued on controversial issues brought up by people within the Kingdom and abroad.