16 July 2012
Local authorities in Makkah unveiled plans to restrict the leveling of mountains that has been ongoing as part of construction projects.
Khaled Fida, director of the Urban Planning Department at the Makkah municipality, said municipal authorities would soon curb the demolishing of mountains to protect the holy city's landscape and ecosystem.
He told Al-Eqtisadiah business daily on Sunday: "A study on taking advantage of Makkah's hilly terrain as well as to preserve it as much as possible has been completed." Future construction work would be in line with the findings of the study.
The official's comments come at a time when the holy city is witnessing a massive construction boom. Many mountainous regions, including those in the central Haram area, have been leveled for construction.
These included the Jabal Omar and Jabal Kaaba regions. A giant development plan for Jabal Khandama is to be implemented in the near future.
Fida noted that Makkah's landscape, which includes rugged and rocky terrain, is not easily accessible. Building the city's road network involves challenges, but the network of tunnels and related projects have helped overcome these hurdles.
Fida said the comprehensive plan for the development of Makkah up to the Hijra year 1450 is now in the last phase of preparation.
"The Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and the Agency for Urban Planning are putting the finishing touches to the plan and that was in coordination with the Makkah municipal council and the Higher Authority for the Development of Makkah and the Holy Sites."
He hoped the ministry would approve the project in the near future.
Referring to the difficulties faced by the municipality with regard to implementing urban planning, Fida said undeveloped districts in the city were posing a great challenge. Several agencies are tackling this problem and carrying out studies about developing these regions in the best possible way.
The ambitious Makkah Development Plan launched last year aims to implement massive projects worth over SR100 billion in the infrastructure, utilities, investment, real estate and tourism sectors over a period of 10 years.
Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal said earlier the King Abdullah development project would make Makkah the first smart city in the Kingdom. He said the smart city project was part of the Kingdom's efforts to improve services for pilgrims who come for Haj and Umrah.
He said the two-year strategic development plan for the Makkah province was prepared with the participation of intellectuals and businessmen and that the plan makes the Holy Kaaba the center of this massive development.
Local authorities in Makkah unveiled plans to restrict the leveling of mountains that has been ongoing as part of construction projects.
Khaled Fida, director of the Urban Planning Department at the Makkah municipality, said municipal authorities would soon curb the demolishing of mountains to protect the holy city's landscape and ecosystem.
He told Al-Eqtisadiah business daily on Sunday: "A study on taking advantage of Makkah's hilly terrain as well as to preserve it as much as possible has been completed." Future construction work would be in line with the findings of the study.
The official's comments come at a time when the holy city is witnessing a massive construction boom. Many mountainous regions, including those in the central Haram area, have been leveled for construction.
These included the Jabal Omar and Jabal Kaaba regions. A giant development plan for Jabal Khandama is to be implemented in the near future.
Fida noted that Makkah's landscape, which includes rugged and rocky terrain, is not easily accessible. Building the city's road network involves challenges, but the network of tunnels and related projects have helped overcome these hurdles.
Fida said the comprehensive plan for the development of Makkah up to the Hijra year 1450 is now in the last phase of preparation.
"The Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and the Agency for Urban Planning are putting the finishing touches to the plan and that was in coordination with the Makkah municipal council and the Higher Authority for the Development of Makkah and the Holy Sites."
He hoped the ministry would approve the project in the near future.
Referring to the difficulties faced by the municipality with regard to implementing urban planning, Fida said undeveloped districts in the city were posing a great challenge. Several agencies are tackling this problem and carrying out studies about developing these regions in the best possible way.
The ambitious Makkah Development Plan launched last year aims to implement massive projects worth over SR100 billion in the infrastructure, utilities, investment, real estate and tourism sectors over a period of 10 years.
Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal said earlier the King Abdullah development project would make Makkah the first smart city in the Kingdom. He said the smart city project was part of the Kingdom's efforts to improve services for pilgrims who come for Haj and Umrah.
He said the two-year strategic development plan for the Makkah province was prepared with the participation of intellectuals and businessmen and that the plan makes the Holy Kaaba the center of this massive development.
© Arab News 2012
