MAKKAH: More than 5,000 Chinese laborers, engineers and technicians are working around the clock to complete the SR6.5 billion monorail project that will link Makkah with the holy sites.
The project will be ready for use to 35 percent of its capacity by next year’s Haj season (1431-2010) and fully operational in two years time. When it reaches full capacity, the 18.1 km long railway will transport about 72,000 passengers every hour between Makkah, Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah.
The monorail project will help withdraw about 53,000 buses and other vehicles being used by pilgrims coming by land from within the Kingdom and neighboring GCC countries, a report issued by the Supreme Haj Committee said.
“The monorail will be distinguished for its speed as well as closeness to the pedestrians. It will not affect Mina’s tents. The topography of the land has been considered while designing the project,” the report said.
The China Railway Company has reinforced with concrete the foundations of the hanging bridge on which the train will be moving to avoid pedestrian crowds below. The main railway terminal will be on the Makkah-Taif Road close to Umm Al-Qura University from where railway lines extend toward Muzdalifah, Arafat and Mina.
The height of the railway will be eight meters in some areas and 10 meters in others so as to allow the smooth movement of traffic.
In addition to transporting pilgrims between Makkah and the holy sites, the train will also serve people coming to perform Umrah (minor pilgrimage) throughout the year. Makkah residents will also be able to use the train to reach the Jamarat area to throw pebbles.
There will be three railway stations in each of the holy sites and each station will have 17 brands of cars and a minimum of eight locomotives.
