- MAKKAH: Makkah Gov.
- Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, who is also chairman of the Central Haj Committee, has allocated three major roads in Makkah for the transportation of pilgrims and visitors to the Grand Mosque in public transport buses during Ramadan and Haj seasons.
The three roads allocated for the transportation of worshippers are Umm Al-Qura Road in the direction of Jeddah, Kuday Road in both directions, and the North King Abdulaziz Road from Al-Jamrat area to the Grand Mosque.
The allocation is part of the operational plan to transport Umrah pilgrims and worshippers going to and returning from the Grand Mosque on public transport vehicles during Haj and Ramadan, currently being implemented in Makkah.
The plan guarantees hitch-free bus rides for worshippers and pilgrims going to the Grand Mosque. The number of vehicles entering the roads that lead to the mosque will fall considerably, as only buses will be used on these roads. Pilgrims can board or alight at special stops.
A special committee has been set up to supervise details such as the tracks and bus stops on all major roads and entry points leading to the mosque.
The prince has instructed the Haj Research Institute at Umm Al-Qura University to evaluate the experimental implementation of the transportation plan during the current Ramadan.
President of Umm Al-Qura University Bakri Assas said the experiment with the participation of the Haj institute and other related agencies aimed at enabling pilgrims and worshippers to reach the Grand Mosque without losing time at traffic snags, a constant headache during Haj and Ramadan seasons.
Assas also stressed the significance of research studies in order to improve Haj and Umrah services. “The researchers of the institute have already started implementing the prince’s order since the beginning of the month. The traffic plan has been experimentally implemented on many roads in the central zone and outside,” said dean of the institute Abdul Aziz Sarouji.
He added that the institute began studying the plan on one major road in Makkah during the last Ramadan.
Referring to projects being implemented by the department during Ramadan, a senior police officer said the Traffic Safety Committee has been entrusted with the task of coordinating implementation of the projects on a time-sensitive basis.