“The completion of the first phase will coincide with the completion of the new Haram expansion project,” the governor said while presiding over a meeting of the executive committee of the Development Authority for Makkah and the Holy Sites.
He said the giant Makkah development project would change the face of the holy city by setting up an integrated transport system including trams and ring roads and developing underdeveloped residential districts in various parts of the city.
The meeting discussed executive measures to implement various projects and how to remove the obstacles facing some projects. Prince Khaled said the King Abdullah project would bring about an unprecedented development of Makkah and the holy sites.
More than 7,000 real estate units will be acquired and demolished in Makkah in 2012 to make way for the expansion of the Grand Mosque and the development of the holy city.
“About 3,000 of these new units worth more than SR40 billion will be appropriated as part of the King Abdullah project,” said Mansour Abu Rayyash, chairman of the real estate committee at the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
He said another 4,000 houses would be demolished for the construction of the parallel road from the western side of the Grand Mosque. “About 1,300 real estate units will be demolished after their value is evaluated for the construction of the second ring road while the remaining 2,700 houses will be demolished to make way for the first ring road and other development projects,” he said.
Abu Rayyash explained real estate units that would be seized for the second ring road were those lying at the extension of the road joining the Al-Biban area and Al-Kaaki bakeries. “The real estate in this area is very expensive and the value of the houses may range from SR15 billion to SR20 billion,” he said.
Meanwhile, Prince Khaled presided over the signing of an agreement between Al-Balad Al-Amin Co. and Duroub Development Co. for the development of the old path to the holy sites. It is part of the project for the development of the holy sites.
The project includes construction of shopping centers, prayer places, public toilets, medical services, car parks and other support services. “The new project will provide excellent service facilities in Mina and Aziziya and contribute to sustainable development,” said Makkah Mayor Osama Al-Bar, who is also chairman of Al-Balad Al-Amin, adding that the project would cost about SR6 billion. “This is the first joint project between Al-Balad Al-Amin and the private sector,” he said.
