Madinah Gov. Prince Abdul Aziz bin Majed said the royal visit reflected the care and concern of Saudi leaders toward the holy city. "The king has approved a proposal to make Madinah a Haj-related zone, effective from this Hijrah year. Subsequently, a number of new projects would be established in the region for the welfare of pilgrims," he said.

The governor said properties to the eastern side of the mosque would be acquired for the expansion project, which is being carried out at a cost SR4.7 billion. It includes construction of 182 sunshades in courtyards around the mosque.

King Abdullah will lay the foundation stone for four electricity projects worth more than SR6 billion. They include construction of four 380KV lines to link Madinah with the central and eastern networks as well as with Makkah and southern networks, the Saudi Electricity CompanySaudi Electricity Company said.

The company plans to establish new high voltage lines within the next 10 years at a total cost of SR15.7 billion as part of its efforts to link all the Kingdom's regions with a common power grid.

Speaking about other projects to be dedicated during the royal visit, Prince Abdul Aziz said the king would inaugurate an SR2.9 billion project to supply water to Madinah's residential districts.

The new health projects to be launched by the king would cost SR800 million and increase the number of hospital beds in the region to more than 1,000.

"The plan for the expansion of Prince Muhammad International Airport in Madinah would be presented to the king to get his approval for starting work on the project," the governor said.

Saudi officials and ordinary citizens welcomed the king's visit to Madinah and said it would open a new chapter in the province's development.

Mohammed bin Ali Al-Oqla, president of Madinah Islamic University, thanked the king for his support to the university to carry out its mission of providing Islamic education to students from different parts of the world.

Since its establishment in 1961, more than 15,000 students from 200 countries have graduated from the university, the president said in a statement on the occasion. A number of new projects are being implemented in the university at a cost of SR245 million, he said. Four student hostels are under construction at a cost of SR60 million.

By P. K. Abdul Ghafour

© Arab News 2008

 

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