The traffic department yesterday announced a new traffic plan for the Aug. 14-15 emergency Islamic summit in Makkah, when private cars will not be allowed to enter the city and people have to use public transport.
Maj. Gen. Abdul Rahman Al-Muqbil, director general of traffic, urged the public to cooperate with the plan set out for the successful organization of the summit called by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah.
“People coming to Makkah have to park their vehicles at the vast parking areas on Al-Laith, Sail and Taif roads, Madinah and Jeddah expressways,” said Al-Muqbil, who supervises the summit’s traffic plan.
The summit’s delegations will use the Jeddah-Makkah Expressway while other passengers will use the Old Makkah Road during the two-day conference. Al-Muqbil said the bus stop in front of King Abdul Aziz Gate of the Grand Mosque will be cancelled and transferred to Kudai.
“We’ll launch a campaign to enlighten the public on the new traffic plan, which is effective from Monday morning (Aug. 13),” he added.
He said parking areas around Makkah can accommodate more than 200,000 vehicles.
About 5,000 officers would be deployed to control the traffic during the summit.
About 950 will be buses will operate around the clock to transport pilgrims to the Grand Mosque.
Around 300,000 vehicles have entered Makkah since the beginning of Ramadan, according to reports.
