The Makkah Construction Project includes four metro lines and 182-km train system with 88 stations that will link Makkah districts to the Grand Mosque, Makkah Mayor Dr. Osama Fadl Al-Bar has said. Dr. Al-Bar expects that Makkah train, which will be linked to the Holy Sites Train, will be operational two years after work begins on the project. The massive effort to improve the Makkah area “will include construction of several important roads to ease traffic congestion,” Dr. Al-Bar was quoted by Al-Madina Arabic daily as saying. The report quoted the mayor as saying that Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah region, aims to have Makkah Construction Project completed in four years. Dr. Al-Bar, who addressed a number of matters related to development projects in the area, told the newspaper that some citizens were mistaken in thinking that the housing project has specifically been created for limited-income citizens. “This is 100 percent a business project,” he said. “All 2,332 residential units will be sold. A small unit will cost SR150,000, a medium-sized unit will cost SR200,000 and a large unit will cost SR250,000.” The first phase of the project will be completed next year and purchasers will be able to make payments on the dwellings, he added. More than 30 residential districts and a complex of government offices will be built on a 4 million sq. meter area on both sides of the Makkah Gate on Makkah-Jeddah Highway, Dr. Al-Bar explained. “Five unplanned districts in Makkah will be developed and alternate accommodation will be provided by the developing company to the residents of unplanned districts,” he said. “These unplanned districts are Al-Kidwa and Al-Nakasa, Al-Sharashif Mountain, Al-Zuhoor District, Al-Khalidiya District, and the district behind the Al-Zomorodah Wedding Palace. “The first three unplanned districts will undergo sweeping changes in terms of development while the remaining two will undergo partial development to improve the infrastructure services.” Dr. Al-Bar also said a study is being conducted to renovate and modernize Makkah tunnels; the work will focus on alarm systems, maintenance, pollution control and other important aspects. The urban observatory established by Makkah Mayoralty serves many sectors such as education, health and social development, Dr. Al-Bar was quoted as saying. “The observatory provides urban planners and developers with information that helps them in all aspects of urban planning such as road networks, water- and sanitary-drainage networks, electricity networks, etc.,” he said. “The observatory has conducted research, several studies and surveys in Makkah for urban planning purposes.” Addressing the issue of acquisition of properties for developing the Grand Mosque's courtyards, Dr. Al-Bar said municipalities, the Ministry of Finance, Makkah Mayoralty and Saudi Bin Laden Group are collectively responsible and they have almost completed their tasks. Dr. Al-Bar also said building the Crown Prince Road linking Al-Ma'abida districts with east, west and north districts of Makkah was delayed due to the high cost involved. “But with the new financial allocations, the mayoralty will restart work on the project soon,” he said.
