Saudi authorities have announced the completion of maintenance on about 491 km of roads leading to Makkah which included Al Madinah Highway, Jeddah Highway, Old Jeddah Road, Al Sail Road, Al Hada Road, Al Layth Road.

 

The scope of work included lighting, bridge expansion, fence repair, scraping and asphalting, as well upkeep of directional signs, road signs, road sign holders, paints, cat eyes, construction of concrete and metal barriers, and fence wires. 

 

This comes following the directives of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince with the support and supervision of Prince Khaled Al Faisal, Adviser to King Salman and Governor of Makkah as part of Hajj preparations, said the Ministry of Transport, which has already assigned buses for each pilgrim group with full precautionary measures.

 

Wadi Ash Shu'bah ferry also started its operation, it added.

 

Minister of Transport Engineer Saleh bin Nasser Al Jasser, confirming the readiness of all facilities and installations for Hajj, said: "Buses have been assigned to each pilgrim group with a dedicated seat number for each pilgrim for the entire Hajj trip. Pilgrims, except for those needing assistance, will enter and exit the bus through different doors."

 

The minister also sought the cooperation of the entire transport users for complying with the necessary preventative measures against Covid-19

 

"If any passenger is found Covid-19 positive, then the bus will not ply until it has been thoroughly disinfected," observed Al Jasser.

 

"The number of passengers must not exceed 50% of the total accommodation capacity of the bus. Passengers must adhere to physical distancing inside the bus by following the recommended policy. A seat must be left vacant between two passengers. However, families can sit together. No one is allowed to stand inside the bus. All passengers must wear facemasks," he added.-TradeArabia News Service