Saudi Gazette report JEDDAH — Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, emir of Makkah and adviser to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, was briefed on Tuesday on the security plans that envisage flawless arrangements and preparations to ensure a smooth and hassle-free pilgrimage this year. These included the general plan for maintaining law and order, plans for crowd management at the Grand Mosque, its courtyards and the Central Haram Area as well as at the Holy Sites of Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah. The plans were unveiled during the meeting of Prince Khaled, who is also chairman of the Central Haj Committee, with top commanders of security forces related with Haj. Meanwhile, the general command for aviation started implementing the first phase of its Haj plan. Maj. Gen. Muhammad Al-Harbi, commander of security aviation at the Ministry of Interior, said that as part of the first phase, a total of 18 aircraft have arrived in Makkah and Madinah from various bases across the Kingdom to carry out the command's mission during the current Haj season. More planes and helicopters will join them in due course. The command's missions include monitoring the security situation and traffic movement of pilgrims, extending security and logistic support for the security and humanitarian service sectors, and checking illegal pilgrims. Al-Harbi said that aviation security forces will have a new uniform and a special color for their vehicles and equipment effective from the current Haj season. He said the troops, technicians and administrators will have dark blue uniforms with slight variations for each section. The vehicles and equipment will have olive green and lead colors. So far nearly 700,000 foreign pilgrims have arrived. All departments and agencies have swung into action to complete their preparations to serve the pilgrims in the best possible manner. Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs Abdullatif Al-Asheikh said the ministry has prepared a full-fledged Haj plan, and all the departments under the ministry are fully geared to implement it in coordination with other ministries and departments. More than 23,000 employees will engage in implementing the plan. Makkah Mayoralty has completed putting street lights along 31.7 km of roads by installing 750 posts and towers at the Holy Sites, according to Bandar Nuh, director of the department. There are field teams to carry out maintenance and repair work around the clock, he added.
