The Follow-up Committee of Transportation for Worshipers
and Umrah Performers Provides Transportation
for 25 Million in Holy Month of Ramadan تكليف خمس شركات لنقل 25 مليون مصل ومعتمر للمسجد الحرام 
Makkah, Sha'ban 29, 1436, June 16, 2015, SPA
The Follow-up Committee of Transportation for Worshipers and Umrah Performers to and from the Holly Grand Mosque in Makkah has completed the prepared plan for transportation during the holy month of Ramadan, with the approval of Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Adviser to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Governor of Makkah region, Chairman of Central Hajj Committee and President of the Supreme Commission for monitoring transport of pilgrims.
The prince has directed all the working and participating agencies in Makkah to work as one team, and take all necessary measures to provide supporting services to operate the services of security, safety, health and care to provide best integrated services for pilgrims, also directing to assign five companies specializing in transportation to provide transport services to 25 million worshipers and Umrah performers to and from the Holy Grand Mosque during the holy month of Ramadan.
http://www.spa.gov.sa/english/print.php?id=1372746
Arabic: http://www.alriyadh.com/1057460
Security in Makkah for Ramadan in place
Wednesday 17 June 2015
MINA: Security arrangements for Umrah pilgrims and visitors to the Grand Mosque and holy sites during Ramadan are in place, according to Makkah’s police department.
“The police will be taking precautionary measures to guarantee the security, ease and comfort of worshipers and pilgrims,” said Maj. Gen. Abdul Aziz Al-Sauli, commander of the police force for Umrah pilgrims.
The security agencies are trained and equipped to deal with huge numbers of pilgrims of diverse nationalities, and all kinds of emergencies, said Al-Sauli during a press conference at the Public Security department’s headquarters in Mina on Sunday.
Outlining the traffic plan, Maj. Gen. Abdul Rahman Al-Muqbil, supervisor for Ramadan at the traffic department, said: “Seven centers outside the Second Ring Road have been opened to transport pilgrims from the Central Zone to the exits.”
“No cars driven by pilgrims will be allowed to enter Makkah to avoid congestion. The cars will be stopped at seven points for screening to determine whether they can enter the holy city,” he said.
Al-Muqbil added that the traffic plan targets the Central Zone and the area outside it. More than 22 million worshipers and pilgrims used public transport last year, he said.
He said the traffic department has conducted several studies on ways to reduce road accidents. The measures introduced include extra patrols and close monitoring of all roads leading to Makkah and Madinah. This is done in collaboration with the Red Crescent, to ensure victims can be airlifted to hospitals.
Maj. Gen. Muhammad Al-Khleiwi, supervisor of the Command and Control Center, said the facility’s most important task is to monitor security and traffic inside and outside the Grand Mosque, with cameras and contact with patrols.
Brig. Saeed Al-Qarni, commander of the police’s task force, said the number of security officers in uniform and plain clothes have been doubled, particularly around the Grand Mosque.
“The security plan this year is to have officers everywhere in Makkah. There have been special stations set up for the season to handle complaints from pilgrims and visitors, and deal with annoying activities such as begging and hawking,” Al-Qarni said.
There would also be police teams deployed to manage crowds at the five bus stations at Bab Ali, Ajyad, Bab Garwal, Al-Ghazza and Shiab Amer, and all parking areas.
http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/news/763281 
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