Khalid Al-Hemaidi and Majed Al-Seqairi Okaz/Saudi Gazette MAKKAH/MADINAH — The General Syndicate of Cars (GSC) has announced that pilgrims' transportation between Madinah and Makkah will stop at 11 p.m. This step was taken to ensure the safety of the 1.3 million pilgrims that the GSC are set to transport. The GSC expects to transport 3.3 million pilgrims between Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah, in addition to 4.65 million pilgrims between the holy places. The head of the GSC, Maj. Gen. Ahmad Sembawah said that the GSC has purchased 1,425 buses at a cost of SR71.25 million. This will increase the number of buses available to transportation companies under the GSC umbrella to 20,888 buses. He said that 18 support and maintenance centers were set up along expressways between cities, and are linked with GSC headquarters. The GSC operational plans began almost two months ago and will end by the completion of the Haj activities. The Jeddah branch of the GSC is expected to receive and transport around 800,000 pilgrims from airport and seaport terminals to Makkah and Madinah. The Madinah branch is expected to receive and transport more than 624,000 pilgrims that will arrive at Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz Airport. He said that the GSC is electronically linked with Haj companies in three languages, Arabic, English, and French. This link allows companies to issue coupons, travel vouchers and bus authorizations. He said that the GSC is utilizing the frequent trips system, which has reduced the number of buses by 33 percent. The GSC has also adopted an operational plan the will provide drivers with enough rest. The Deputy Haj Minister Hatem Qadi said that around 10,000 buses have transported pilgrims from Madinah to Makkah over three days, and no accidents were reported. He added that the operational plan for the ministry's branch in Madinah has been executed according to plan.
