MAKKAH: The General Presidency of Holy Mosques Affairs has stepped up its efforts to improve wheelchair facilities for infirm and disabled pilgrims.
More than 5,000 wheelchairs will be supplied free of charge by the presidency's office at the eastern plaza of the Grand Mosque.
Fifty men volunteer to push the wheelchairs between the Dhuhur prayer and midnight. Around 600 wheelchairs are offered by private organizations at a nominal charge.
More than 100 motorized wheelchairs can also be rented from the Al-Safa office on the first floor of the mosque, as long as pilgrims know how to operate them.
Over 500 wheelchairs are also available for rent on the ground floor. The rental fee is SR50 per day during the first 20 days of Ramadan, increasing to SR100 for the last 10.
More than 100 employees supervise the management and renting of wheelchairs. They also issue licenses to Saudis to work as wheelchair pushers.
The supervisors also ensure that wheelchair pushers do not overcharge pilgrims and that they use the track meant for the disabled only.
The administration seeks the help of Haram police to arrest and punish people offering disabled services without a license.
Wheelchairs are allowed to enter the Grand Mosque through 13 gates for the disabled and designated escalators.
The names of the gates are King Abdul Aziz, King Fahd, Al-Umrah, Al-Madinah, Jisr Al-Madinah, Jisr Al-Nadwah, Al-Fatah, Al-Qararah, Al-Safa New, Al-Hunain and Ajyad.
© Arab News 2010
