Saudi Arabia has unveiled a $22.5-billion project for a "driverless" Metro here in the capital city, the construction of which will begin in the first quarter of 2014, a media report said Monday.
The Riyadh Metro -- dubbed the "Miracle of the Desert" -- will consist of six lines with a length of 176 km and 85 stations, Xinhua cited Arab News as saying.
The proposed Metro will pass through areas near government buildings, commercial and health centres, educational centres and major universities in Riyadh and its suburbs.
The Metro will also connect the King Khaled International Airport.
Trains will run at 40 km per hour. All stations and carriages will be air-conditioned. The driverless electric trains will also be divided into first class, family class and single class carriages.
The project has been awarded to three foreign consortia.