construction planning has officially started on the King Abdullah Project for the Development of Makkah, it was announced on Saturday by Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah region. Construction work will begin in September, he added. This comes a day after the launch of the Makkah Clock and the laying of the foundation stone for the largest-ever expansion of the Grand Mosque. The massive King Abdullah Project for the Development of Makkah includes the development of unplanned residential areas, planning and managing urban development, establishing a ring road network, light rails, public transportation and organized taxi systems and pedestrian walkways in Makkah and the Holy Sites. Prince Khaled, who is also President of the Commission for the Development of Makkah, that supervises the project, instructed the project team to reduce the planned deadline for the project from six years to between four and five years. He described the project as one of national importance. Living and working in Makkah will be greatly improved after the project is completed, said Prince Khaled. He said the project is based on the King's instructions to improve services for pilgrims and visitors. “We need to have world-class organization and services, otherwise our work will be a waste of time and money. This we will not allow,” said Prince Khaled. The “development revolution” of Makkah is based on the state's regulations, five-year plans, and regional development plans, said Prince Khaled. A study to build many floors for Tawaf (circumambulation) around the Ka'ba, will be submitted to the King, he said. Meanwhile, the holy Makkah Municipality is pushing ahead with its plans to develop a new urban mass rail transit system for the city. Makkah faces significant congestion and transportation challenges. It is the focal point of the Haj, the Islamic pilgrimage, which attracts millions of visitors to the city every year. The city's own population is also growing rapidly and is estimated to double to three million by 2035. Urban development is further restricted by Makkah's topography, with several significant hills constricting movement to key corridors. The Makkah Mass Rail Transit project (MMRT) is a key aspect of the municipality's strategy to address these growth challenges and the current public transport deficit. MMRT project will involve the construction of four new rail lines. The lines will be constructed in stages. Stage 1 will include the construction of sections of lines “B” and “C”. Line “B” section will be 10 km long, with 6 new stations and will mainly be underground. It will be an extension of the existing Al Masha'er Al Muqaddisa rail line. __
