Government | Thursday 15 January, 2015 3:01 am |

Makkah’s traffic department has approved eight detours to ease congestion close to the Grand Mosque caused by huge numbers of Umrah pilgrims and visitors.
Col. Salman bin Mayous Al-Jumaihi, director of the traffic department, said the measures have been taken to prevent pilgrims heading to the mosque’s southern courtyards, where construction is currently underway.

He said that traffic coming from Azizia is being redirected to the tunnel of the small market in Makkah. All contracted and hotel vehicles now have to use the tunnels to take passengers to Bab Ali courtyard. Those coming from Kadi in the direction of Ibrahim Al-Khalil Street, especially on Fridays, would have to use the same route.

“Vehicles allocated to transport Umrah pilgrims will be redirected through the northern courtyard and ease congestion at the Bin Laden traffic lights,” he said. Those traveling from Al-Maabda and Al-Jubaiza Street will be redirected to Al-Ghaza station, and Shaab Amer courtyard. He urged Umrah pilgrims and hotel owners to abide by these instructions.
He said a detailed plan has been drafted in cooperation with all local authorities. There is a ban on parking in the central area and underpasses, and people are encouraged to use public transport where possible. There is coordination taking place with the municipality to allocate parking for taxi cabs in the central area, including special parking areas for people with disabilities in Al-Shabeika, Al-Ghaza and Bab Al-Malik to facilitate easy access to the central area and the Grand Mosque.

He said parking bays have been allocated for taxi cabs in Ibrahim Al-Khalil Street, Qasr Al-Safa and Al-Ghaza to serve the guests of God. There would be a ban on unauthorized vehicles and motorbikes using all entry points to the Grand Mosque, especially during weekends.
He said traffic officers have been ordered to prevent vehicles from entering the central area 30 minutes before and after prayers, except on Fridays, when the ban will be extended for an hour before and after prayers.

He said traffic officers have been deployed on all roads leading to the Grand Mosque including Al-Ghaza underpass, Al-Ghaza square, Al-Hafaer detour, and Al-Amyal, Al-Moaysim and Al-Awali overpasses.