Ibrahim Alawi Okaz/Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, emir of Makkah and adviser to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, has instructed that all projects in the holy city should be completed on schedule. He called for the completion of regenerating the underdeveloped districts in Makkah within the coming five years while stressing the need for concluding all projects in their scheduled time. The emir made these remarks while addressing a meeting of the board of directors of Al-Balad Al-Amin Company, which is owned by the Makkah Municipality, at his office here. During the meeting, Makkah Mayor Osama Al-Bar, chairman of the company's board, and members briefed the emir on the company's plan to develop several projects and their period of implementation. Al-Bar said the company undertakes design works of projects, approval and execution of major utility projects, including roads, drinking water, sewage, irrigation and power transmission. He said regenerating underdeveloped neighborhoods is the company's top priority. Developing the Al-Sharashif Mountain region is among them. The project, spread over an area of 1.7 million sq. meters, is located at an extension of Ibrahim Khaleel Road, 500 meters from the Grand Mosque. The project, which includes setting up of a multipurpose urban center consisting of residential, commercial and hospitality projects, and developing the road to the Grand Mosque, has been divided into five zones, he said. Al-Bar said more than 27,000 people would have residential facilities with the development of Nakasa and Kidwa districts project, which covers an area of 450,000 sq. meters. Development of Zamzam Square includes the underdeveloped area located between King Abdulaziz Road project and Umm Al-Qura Road, he said. The mayor said the company is also working on making available soft housing project. The first phase of the project consisting of 45 buildings with 1,048 residential units, and the second phase of 68 buildings with 1,288 residential units were completed in 2014. Construction work for the third phase is under way and the project will be delivered to the beneficiaries in 2016. According to Al-Bar, the company is also implementing a housing project for employees of companies working in the fields of administration and service at the project site of Makkah Gate, 17 km from the city center. The project consists of 82 residential buildings for families and bachelors, 167 villas for families and a building for women. Makkah Gate Company is supervising the project. Nearly a month ago, Prince Khaled chaired a ministerial meeting to discuss speeding up of development projects in Makkah, Jeddah and Taif. Five ministers attended the meeting that outlined a new road map to expedite implementation of essential projects, including projects at the holy sites, underdeveloped districts, transport systems, and flood prevention measures. The meeting decided to complete the project within 5 years and set up three subsidiary panels to follow up efforts to develop underdeveloped districts in Makkah, Jeddah and Taif. A high-powered panel under Prince Khaled's leadership has been formed to work out a mechanism to prevent the emergence of underdeveloped areas, set out a model plan for their development and open new roads and service centers in newly developed districts.
One of the projects envisaged under the Makkah development plan. — Okaz photos
