RIYADH — The Shoura Council on Monday called on the Ministry of Haj to prepare, in coordination with the concerned agencies, a comprehensive and full-fledged study about making changes in planning for the tent city of Mina. The Council session, chaired by its President Abdullah Al-Asheikh, made this demand while discussing a report of the committee for Haj, housing and services, after taking into account the viewpoints of the members on the annual report of the ministry of Haj. Yahya Al-Samaan, assistant president, said that the Council wanted the study to cover topics such as the smooth flow of pilgrims and transportation between Mina and other holy sites of Arafat and Muzdalifah, increasing the capacity of roads leading to the Jamarat Complex and accommodation within the Tent City, bringing down the space allotted for the government agencies, raising the space limit designated for each pilgrim, improving facilities for the comfort of pilgrims, upgrading efficiency of utility services, and enhancing the means of safety and security. The Council also demanded the ministry to review the plan for regrouping Haj pilgrims and update it in a way addressing the difficulties faced every year. It also called for unifying the mechanism for field inspection of residential buildings for the pilgrims during the Haj season, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
