The Interior Minister and Chairman of the Supreme Hajj Committee, Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, approved an operation plan for areas surrounding the Grand Mosque in Makkah during the Hajj season, Al-Madinah newspaper reported.
Dr Mohammad Bin Abdullah Idris, a senior official at the King Fahd Hajj Research Institute, said that the plan would be implemented with the participation of eleven government departments.
“The central region of Makkah will be divided into three centres, each with an integrated operation plan,” Idris said, adding that the plan includes a plan for the evacuation of pilgrims in emergencies.
All buses used to transport pilgrims must be registered with the traffic department and undergo MVPI (Motor Vehicle Periodic Inspection) tests, an official statement said. Violators face fifteen days in jail or a fine of SR500.
Owners who intend to use their vehicles to transport pilgrims must register them with the traffic department to ensure that they are technically sound, and to obtain permits. Owners must report to the traffic office at the nearest MVPI facility in order to register their buses and obtain a preliminary permit from the Transport Ministry. Those who rent foreign buses must obtain a special permit from the Hajj Ministry. Violators of the above rules will be given a maximum jail sentence of fifteen days, fined SR500, or both, and buses used in violation of the rules will be held by authorities until the end of the Hajj season.
Source: SPA
