“The department will not show any leniency toward drivers of private vehicles who transport passengers from areas surrounding the Grand Mosque,” Al-Madinah Arabic daily quoted Al-Maghrabi as saying.

He said the executive bylaw set out by the Transport Department has fixed a fine of SR5,000 for this traffic violation.

“We have started implementing this fine for drivers who violate the law during Ramadan,” the official said, adding that the department would also confiscate the vehicles involved for 15 days.

The department has already seized many private cars and other vehicles used by drivers to transport pilgrims and other passengers during Ramadan, when a large number of people visit Makkah.

“We have parked those cars in Jabal Maskhuta, the area specified for keeping such vehicles,” Al-Maghrabi said, adding that such vehicles were causing traffic problems in central Makkah.