In a move aimed at regulating the urban landscape and ensuring the highest safety standards in the Saudi capital, the board of directors of the Riyadh Infrastructure Projects Center has approved a comprehensive update to the schedule of violations and penalties for infrastructure works and projects. This decision integrates the new schedule into the municipal violations regulations, granting the center broader powers to address violations and enhance regulatory compliance at work sites.
Urban development context in Riyadh
Riyadh is witnessing an unprecedented urban renaissance and a massive expansion of infrastructure projects in line with the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which aims to make Riyadh one of the top 10 city economies in the world. With the increasing pace of construction, transportation, and service projects, the urgent need has arisen for a unified regulatory body to ensure coordinated work and mitigate visual pollution and traffic hazards resulting from excavations. This new update reflects the center's commitment to enhancing the quality of life, improving the urban landscape, and ensuring that development projects do not negatively impact traffic flow or public safety.
Smart monitoring mechanisms and expanded powers
Under the new update, the center's CEO has been granted the necessary authority to implement the decision. The center will rely on an integrated monitoring system that includes automated and manual monitoring, in addition to receiving reports and monitoring via live cameras. The decision emphasizes that recording violations does not require the presence of the violator at the site. Basic data, the type of violation, and its severity will be documented electronically, and special reports will be issued in cases of non-cooperation or obstruction of the monitors' work.
Details of traffic fines and violations
The new schedule placed a strong emphasis on road safety at work sites, establishing deterrent financial penalties that include:
- 3000 riyals: A daily fine for the absence of light reflectors on barriers or failure to maintain directional signs.
- 4000 riyals: in case of failure to place reflective directional and warning signs.
- 5000 riyals: If alternative routes are not equipped with reflective signs, road signs are tampered with, or work is started without an approved traffic management plan.
Safety standards and site security
Regarding securing excavation sites, the regulations stipulate fines of up to 15,000 riyals for failing to secure the entire site perimeter with temporary barriers. Fines ranging from 3,000 to 10,000 riyals are also imposed for violations related to the failure to use temporary safety measures, the use of empty plastic barriers, or the lack of support for excavation sides, which endangers workers and passersby.
Protecting the urban landscape and the environment
The update also addressed environmental and aesthetic concerns, imposing fines of up to 10,000 riyals for dumping construction waste in the work area, as well as fines for excessive lighting, damage to trees and gardens, or pumping water in unauthorized locations. Furthermore, the update emphasized the necessity of displaying accurate project information panels to maintain a unified visual identity.
Licensing violations: The most severe penalties
The regulations included the strictest penalties regarding licenses, to ensure serious implementation:
- 20,000 riyals: fine for using a drilling permit in a manner that violates its content.
- 30,000 riyals: A fine for using an “emergency excavation permit” to carry out non-emergency work, which is considered a serious circumvention of regulations.
- 15,000 riyals: for continuing to work without renewing the license.
This decisive move by the Infrastructure Projects Center represents a qualitative leap in project management in the capital, which will directly contribute to reducing traffic disruptions, protecting public property, and ensuring that projects are implemented according to the highest international quality standards.
