Pilgrims will be able to descend from Arafat and travel to Mina and then Makkah's Central Zone in 30 minutes next year, according to General Sulaiman Al-Ajlan, Director General of the Traffic Department and head of the Traffic Department Haj Force. He said the new plan includes a change in the traffic routes and that pilgrims will be transferred 60 percent faster than the current rate. At a press conference held at the command headquarters in Muzdalifa Tuesday, Al-Ajlan said a committee was formed to carry out the plan under the orders of Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah and Chairman of the Haj Central Committee. The committee includes officials from the Emir's Office, Ministry of Haj, Ministry of Transport, Haj Research Center, Holy Sites Development Commission and the Makkah Mayor's Office, in addition to representatives from a consultation office, and SAPTCO and HAFIL transport companies. Al-Ajlan said a study has been completed on setting up a single point for all cars that are not allowed to enter Makkah. He added that the new transport plan is aimed at creating an efficient public transport system which will speed up the movement of pilgrims to the Central Zone. He said 34 Control and Prevention points have been placed around the holy sites including five at Makkah's entry points. Several new checkpoints have also been placed on Assail Road and Alwadi Alakdhar Road, which leads to Arafat, to prevent a recurrence of last year when many cars without permits were allowed to enter. Last year about 560,000 vehicles were prevented from entering Makkah, he said. This year more than 17,000 traffic police officers and 200 vehicles and pieces of equipment are taking part in Haj operations. Colonel Mesh'al Al-Maghrabi, Director General of the Makkah Traffic Department, said the Haj traffic plan came into force last Saturday. Cars will not be allowed into the Central Zone one-half hour before and after prayers. Colonel Muhammad Al-Bassami, Control and Prevention Forces commander, said a checkpoint was placed on the Makkah-Al-Hada road this year. This is in addition to a number of checkpoints at the holy sites and in Al
