Poor bus service vexes pilgrims

Pilgrims in Makkah are finding it very difficult to go to the Grand Mosque and return to their accommodation despite the introduction of a special nonstop bus service connecting the Grand Mosque with outer districts for the Ramadan season.
The pilgrims say there are an insufficient number of buses when they want to return to their hotels, especially after the five daily prayers and the Taraweeh (night) prayers.
Muhammad Al-Harbi, a Saudi currently performing Umrah, said that despite the introduction of a mass transit system called Taraddudi Services (nonstop buses shuttling between two locations around the clock) to link the Central Zone with outer districts, a sufficient number of buses is still not on the road to cope with the huge number of pilgrims waiting to return to their rooms.
“Pilgrims have to wait more than 30 minutes at the bus stop to find the right bus,” he told Al-Madinah newspaper on Saturday.
The number of Taraddudi buses varies from place to place. “Last year, we had to wait only 10 minutes after the Taraweeh prayers, while we have to wait 30 minutes now,” he said.
According to Nasser Al-Otaibi, another pilgrim, the closure of some roads has caused crowding on roads and difficulty for passengers at bus stops.
Transportation for huge numbers of pilgrims has been required this season because of the demolition of hundreds of buildings close to the Grand Mosque due to the ongoing expansion and other developmental projects. Pilgrims are, therefore, provided accommodation at distant locations, which in turn calls for more mass transit facilities.
The Taraddudi system aims to operate buses continuously so that pilgrims may go and return from the Grand Mosque whenever they want to.
Commander of Public Security for Umrah Maj. Gen. Saad Al-Khelaiwi said this Umrah season is different from past years because of the limited space available at the Mataf (area for circumambulation), where expansion works are currently under way as part of the Grand Mosque expansion project.
He also stressed the need for implementing special measures to ensure the safety of worshippers with the cooperation of pilgrims and visitors. He said wheelchairs carrying disabled or sick pilgrims would not be permitted to enter the Grand Mosque between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.
He also assured public officials that plans are under way to cope with overcrowding. He appealed to worshippers and visitors to maintain order, especially while leaving the Grand Mosque after prayers, to keep the exits free of obstacles.
He also called on all Makkah residents to postpone their Umrah until after Ramadan so that pilgrims from distant towns in the Kingdom and abroad can perform their rites more comfortably.