A feasibility study on constructing new tent complexes for pilgrims in northern Mina will soon be submitted to King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, for final approval. Dr. Habeeb Zain Al-Abdeen, Deputy Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs, said the proposed project has been designed to house a million pilgrims through an integrated network of services. The SR520 million third phase of Jamarat Bridge, he said, will be finished by mid November. This phase will link the third story of the bridge to four escalators to carry pilgrims coming from Al-Moaessim and the western and eastern Al-Shoaiban up to the Jamarat area for their stoning rituals. Once finished, pilgrims will use seven escalators at the western side of the Jamarat to take them down. Dr. Habeeb said engineers conservatively set the capacity of the multi-story bridge this year at 300,000 pilgrims per hour. The bridge's full capacity is much more, he added. Precautionary measures have been taken to deal with any emergency in case of rainfall, highly expected during this year's Haj, he said. The SR260 million water drainage project in Mina was completed last year, he said. A similar SR170 million project in Arafat will be completed within a year, he said. – Okaz __
