JEDDAH: Makkah citizens are furious over Umrah buses invading the streets of Al-Shisha neighborhood for parking purpose after unloading passengers in the central hotel area, creating congestion and traffic chaos.
Salem Abu Hamra, a resident of the affected area, told a local newspaper that parking of buses on the road between Moaabdah neighborhood and Al-Shisha, opposite Al-Muala graveyard, causes serious traffic problems for residents or those trying to cross the area.
“The street is not more than 15 meters and as buses park on both sides, there is hardly any space for one vehicle to pass through,” he said, adding that the Traffic Department should immediately find a solution to the problem.
Abdullah, another resident, said parking buses is not limited to the Al-Shisha neighborhood, but other neighborhoods are also affected. “These neighborhoods are close to the Grand Mosque, the central area,” he said, adding: “Why these buses are not directed to the allotted parking areas at the entrances of Makkah?”
Col. Fawzi Al-Ansari, the media spokesman of traffic management in the holy city, was quoted as saying that a traffic plan would be adopted next week, which will establish a mechanism and sites for parking buses away from neighborhoods.
Al-Ansari said that field teams to manage vehicular traffic have intensified checking at potential sites where buses are regularly parked. Anyone found violating the rules will be penalized, he added.
Salem Abu Hamra, a resident of the affected area, told a local newspaper that parking of buses on the road between Moaabdah neighborhood and Al-Shisha, opposite Al-Muala graveyard, causes serious traffic problems for residents or those trying to cross the area.
“The street is not more than 15 meters and as buses park on both sides, there is hardly any space for one vehicle to pass through,” he said, adding that the Traffic Department should immediately find a solution to the problem.
Abdullah, another resident, said parking buses is not limited to the Al-Shisha neighborhood, but other neighborhoods are also affected. “These neighborhoods are close to the Grand Mosque, the central area,” he said, adding: “Why these buses are not directed to the allotted parking areas at the entrances of Makkah?”
Col. Fawzi Al-Ansari, the media spokesman of traffic management in the holy city, was quoted as saying that a traffic plan would be adopted next week, which will establish a mechanism and sites for parking buses away from neighborhoods.
Al-Ansari said that field teams to manage vehicular traffic have intensified checking at potential sites where buses are regularly parked. Anyone found violating the rules will be penalized, he added.
