JEDDAH: Public transport projects implemented in coordination with the Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites are going as planned, the Makkah Region Development Authority (MRDA) has announced.
“The first phase of the project is currently being implemented through several contracts, such as the one with Japanese ICT company NEC Corp. that has introduced a smart transport system to buses and transport companies serving pilgrims,” it said.
“NEC Corp. will start introducing the smart system on 400 buses in 2020 to reach 2,000 buses over the course of 5 years.
“The project has the support of Makkah’s Gov. Prince Khalid bin Faisal and is being followed up by his deputy, Prince Badr bin Sultan, to provide pilgrims with convenient transportation.
“Infrastructure works are being done through another contractor and they include the main stations, stops, special lanes, pedestrian bridges, traffic lights control systems and pedestrian lights among others.”

The project represents a qualitative leap for Makkah’s transport because of its positive effects on the quality of life by facilitating the movement of the city’s residents and pilgrims.
The public transport network has 12 lanes that cover most of the city’s regions with 400 German-made buses that seek to provide the highest levels of comfort, efficiency and outstanding service. They are equipped with the latest smart transport systems allowing their command and control center to locate them through GPS and manage them remotely. They have also been equipped with the highest standards of safety and security through camera surveillance systems, accident protection systems, self-contained fire extinguishing systems and emergency alarm systems.
The buses have Wi-Fi networks, trip guidance screens, smart multilingual payment systems, automatic passengers counting systems, instant trip information systems and bus prioritization systems linked to the traffic lights system.