2,300 infrastructure violations detected in Riyadh

Cairo: More than 2,300 violations were detected last month in the Saudi capital Riyadh, according to a government agency.

The Riyadh Infrastructure Projects Centre (RIPC) added that it had received more than 18,000 reports of violations of infrastructure project regulations and requirements in March.

The infringements were exposed during more than 16,000 RIPC inspection tours of project works in Riyadh. The violations included poor cleanliness of work sites during and after completing them, and failure to put up warning lights along traffic diversions.

Other violations included failure to place signs bearing the names of the business owner, the supervising consultant, and the name of the contractor as well as non-renewal of related licences.

Inspection tours aim to raise compliance rates, ensure observance of technical standards for infrastructure projects, and boost their quality and safety.

Created in 2023, RIPC is tasked with improving and developing infrastructure projects in the Riyadh region with the aim of enhancing the quality of life for residents and visitors, promoting the urban landscape and ensuring spending efficiency.

Deemed one of the world's fast-growing cities, Riyadh’s population is projected to rise from 7 million in 2022 to around 9.6 million by the end of this decade. 

Saudi Arabia plans to invest nearly $1 trillion in infrastructure projects by 2030 to expedite economic diversification and bolster private sector participation, the kingdom's Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Al Ebrahim said earlier this year.