MAKKAH: Yousif Al-Ahmadi, a member of the Real Estate Committee at the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), has suggested a number of proposals for the development of the area around the Grand Mosque with a view to provide more space to accommodate growing number of pilgrims and visitors. He hoped that the government would consider his proposals, which he said was open to “amendment, addition and discussion.”
The proposals are as follows:
1.) The expansion of the area north of the Grand Mosque by 300,000 square meters, which has been ordered by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, is a historic one.
My suggestion is to make similar expansions at the eastern, southern and western areas. The expansion of the Massa, ordered by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, must be enhanced by an expansion of the area to the Haram.
Concentration should not be on the northern area only because it will be overcrowded.
Instead, the intake capacity of this area in addition to the eastern, southern and western areas should be identical. This will provide more space for the increasing number of pilgrims and visitors, and will make the Holy Mosque accessible from all four directions.
The expansion I am suggesting covers an area of 365,000 square meters, which can be added to the ongoing expansion ordered by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the north of the Holy Mosque.
The existing eight main roads leading to the Haram must be increased with new roads to make it easy to reach the Holy Mosque from all directions. The Haram should be within a circle to make it reachable from all corners.
2.) Each one of the companies granted a development franchise at the central area by the Supreme Development Authority for Makkah should carefully study the area allotted to it with a view to incorporating the basic infrastructure and services projects.
Locations no less than 10,000 square meters should be given to the electricity company and other utilities outside the central area.
The companies must construct roads and tunnels that are suitable for using modern means of transport. They should also make special roads and channels for pedestrians in addition to escalators starting from the Holy Mosque and extending for 500 meters in order to break the mountain barrier separating between the first central area and the second proposed one.
The execution of the development projects should be in phases to allow for the construction of alternative housing units for those whose houses have been expropriated.
There should be many central areas to achieve the noble objective of reaching the Kaaba.
3.) Shantytown areas in Makkah have to be developed within a maximum period of 24 months. This will provide an additional space between 100,000 to 500,000 square meters.
A committee comprising the owners of buildings in shanty areas, the higher authority for the development of Makkah, the grand court, the municipality, the ministry of commerce and other concerned bodies should be formed to conduct a competition among developing companies who should be given between 20 percent to 30 percent of the profits.
This is a better system than the existing one of giving the companies complete franchise over the areas to be developed.
4.) The pedestrian tunnels should be provided with all safety means. They should all have radial accesses leading directly to the Kaaba to enable worshippers to reach there quickly especially at the peak times.
5.) All radial roads should be placed for tenders before the construction companies who should build them on the same pattern used for the development of the shanty areas.
6.) Building a circular road around the Holy Mosque to indicate its boundaries.
7.) Constructing a 70-km express road from King Abdul Aziz International Airport to Makkah. This will save 35 km from the existing Jeddah-Makkah express road, which is 105 km long.
