Jamrat To Undergo Renovation, Expansion
By Rosli Abidin Yahya

Bandar Seri Begawan – Haj pilgrims to Mecca will feel more comfortable four years from now as the stoning area of Jamrat in Mina, near Mecca, will undergo renovation and expansion.

A local pilgrim who read a newspaper report highlighted the matter to the Bulletin, adding the expansion work will be carried out after the current Haj pilgrimage season.

Haj Miniater Fouad Al-Farsy was quoted by the Arab News saying that expansion work costing some B$L8 billion is aimed at accommodating four million pilgrims each season.

Currently, only 2.5 to three million pilgrims are allowed to go for Haj to avoid overcrowding which could lead to stampedes id the case of panic.

When ready, the expanded and renovated Jamrat will solve many problems faced by pilgrims performing the stoning ritual, including the recurrence of stampedes that have already resulted in several deaths.

The four-year project includes the expansion of the area around Jamrat, automatic cleaning of the area and transportation of pilgrims from tents to Jamrat and back by train.

It will also have a five-floor stoning area, electronic stairs, 12 entrances and 12 exits and will be linked to tents by hanging bridges.

The facility will allow 500,000 pilgrims to perform the ritual at any one time in an hour, said Osama Albar, dean of King Fahd Haj Institute, which oversees the project.

No vehicles will be allowed in the area around Jamrat and underground tunnels will be built for motorists.

Less than 1,000 pilgrims from Brunei will join 2.5 million Muslims worldwide in this season of pilgrimage. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

Click Here To Have Your Say On This Story

Brudirect.com News

Brunei's Fastest Growing Website with