Riyadh – Mubasher: Makkah Region Development Authority (MRDA), in collaboration with the Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites, plans to introduce new smart technology on buses by 2020 in a bid to improve transportation services for pilgrims in Makkah.
The Japan-based information technology firm, NEC Corporation, will implement the first phase of the project as it has received a purchase order from the kingdom for an intelligent transportation system (ITS), according to MRDA’s statement.
The new system will offer an accurate scheduling service and an automated fare collection system, which utilizes IC cards to enable cashless, accurate and reliable fare collection, as well as a bus location management via GPS.
It will also provide bus information to passengers through solar-powered displays installed at bus stops and mobile applications.
MRDA noted that the ITS will cover 400 buses by 2020, with a plan to increase the number to 2,000 buses over the coming five years.
