Col. Fahd Al-Hamad, commander of forces at Jabal Al-Rahma in Arafat, has emphasized the need for setting up a command center at Jabal Al-Rahma where a large number of pilgrims gather at the peak of the annual Haj.
Speaking at a workshop recently, Al-Hamad said such an operation room should be elevated and be provided with cameras to monitor the movement of pilgrims.
Al-Hamad also called for moving the toilets located southwest of Jabal Al-Rahma to another place in order to reduce congestion in the area. He also raised awareness of the propensity of pilgrims to squat in shaded areas, creating bottlenecks in the smooth flow of foot traffic.
In his paper presented at the workshop, Al-Hamad proposed construction of separate stairs on the north of the Jabal for pilgrims and visitors.
“If people are not allowed to climb on the hill in accordance with Shariah, then a fence should be made around the Jabal,” Al-Hamad said.
He also proposed 500 barriers in order to control the movement of pilgrims in the area. He called for a pedestrian bridge from the beginning of the intersection of Road No. 7 with the third crossing toward Jabal Al-Rahma.
He emphasized the need for preventing vendors from sitting around the hill selling goods. He also said the men who offer camel rides in the area should not be allowed to do so.
