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JEDDAH – The Makkah Region Development Authority approved plans and studies to build service tunnels linking Arafat and Jamarat in Mina via Muzdalifah, and tunnels linking Jamarat with the courtyards of the Grand Mosque in Makkah.
The meeting was chaired by Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, emir of Makkah and adviser to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, at the governorate office in Jeddah on Wednesday.
The plans and studies will be presented to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman for final approval and execution on a time-bound basis.
Minister of Haj and Umrah Muhammad Bantan, Assistant Minister of Finance Muhammad Al-Mazeed, Dr. Ahmad Muhmmad Ali, advisor to the chairman of the authority, and the authority members attended the meeting.
The plans also include construction of residential towers on the mountain slope of Mina in a way not violating the sanctity of the Holy Site.
A total of six towers have already been constructed in Mina and these have the capacity to accommodate around 12,000 pilgrims.
The studies also recommended developing the tents in Arafat and making more facilities and arrangements for the stay of pilgrims in Muzdalifah. There are also plans for boosting means of transportation in between the Holy Sites and between Holy Sites and the Grand Mosque.
Hashim Al-Faleh, secretary general of the authority, said that the meeting endorsed adoption of innovative methods to develop unplanned districts in Makkah region through the participation of citizens. According to the plan, the citizens will be allowed to develop their properties within these districts and that is in cooperation with the concerned government agencies. The meeting also discussed the plan, prepared by Jeddah Municipality, to develop the southern neighborhoods of the new King Abdulaziz International Airport. He said that the meeting also decided to organize a forum to attract investments to Makkah, as well as to encourage the private sector to take part in implementing development projects in the region.
© The Saudi Gazette 2016
