JEDDAH, 10 February 2003 — Cashing in on high demand, local taxi drivers are taking pilgrims for a ride. For a trip to Makkah, pilgrims were yesterday being charged six times the normal fare.

In downtown Balad traffic police regulated the flow of vehicles, taxis and buses as citizens and expats continued to pour in from different parts of the city to head for Makkah.

A huge crowd of pilgrims and operators of taxis and buses gathered opposite the SAPTCO bus stand. Those who wanted a quick ride chose taxis but many of them found the ride too expensive.

Ahmed Aboud, 23, and Ahmed Mardilli, 20, both Syrians working in the Jeddah Industrial City, said they were “disappointed and disheartened” by the fare taxi drivers were charging. “The bus fare is just SR10, while the taxi fare normally is SR15 per head. Taxi drivers are now quoting an exorbitant fare — SR100 and above per passenger,” Aboud said while looking for an “affordable” taxi opposite the SAPTCO stand.

“We are performing Haj for the first time after planning for two years, but we can’t afford the fare,” Mardilli said.

A number of expats in ihram were seen waiting at various traffic intersections for taxis to reach the holy city.

“I’ve been waiting for over two hours trying to negotiate an affordable fare. Some of the cabbies are demanding eight times the normal price,” said Ahmed Melake, an Eritrean shop assistant.

Sulaiman Mobarak, a 43-year-old Sudanese assistant at a pharmacy in Mahjar, south Jeddah, said his family was excited about the pilgrimage.

“I’ve managed to engage a taxi for all four of us for SR300. My two sons are anxious to reach the holy city,” Mobarak said.

From Sunday night through yesterday, all roads from Jeddah led to Makkah as citizens and residents in cars, taxis and buses headed for Haj.

Exits to the Makkah Ring Road, especially from King Abdul Aziz International Airport, Tahlia St., Palestine St., Wali Al-Ahd St. and both the old and new Makkah roads, were packed with vehicles.

One of the most common sights on city roads was families going for Haj with their belongings stacked on top of their vehicles.

While offices, commercial establishments and schools announced their Haj holidays effective from last weekend, a few international schools did not close until yesterday.

“Travel agencies will continue to work for four hours from 10 a.m. daily until Thursday,” A.K. Balooch, director of marketing and sales at Qasswa for Haj & Umrah, told Arab News.