A total of 20,000 buses from 17 national transport companies have been allocated to transport Haj pilgrims this year, said Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah region and Chairman of the Higher Committee Overseeing Pilgrims' Transport. In a statement to Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Prince Khaled said the government has also provided trains and other means of secure transport for pilgrims this year. He said Allah has given the country “the honor of serving pilgrims” and visitors to the Two Holy Mosques and the government wants to ensure they have a safe Haj. He said the Mashair Train will transport more than 420,000 pilgrims between the holy sites and the rest will be transported by shuttle buses. He said he does not expect any traffic bottlenecks because the small buses, which cause traffic congestion, have been barred from entering Makkah and have been replaced with jumbo buses. In future, a field committee will be assigned annually to oversee the transport of pilgrims from the beginning of Dhul Qada to the end of Muharram. Members of the committee will be deployed on all the roads leading to Makkah and Madina. The committee will consist of representatives from Makkah and Madina emirates, and the ministries of Haj, Transport and Public Security and have support from seasonal employees, technicians and administrators. To fulfill its task properly, the committee will be given a fleet of patrol vehicles equipped with modern telecommunications tools and supported by a fleet of ambulances. Prince Khaled prayed to Allah to grant pilgrims good health.
