JEDDAH: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman has directed the concerned authorities to make fully available to the pilgrims all completed sites in the Grand Mosque expansion project including the northern, western and southern piazzas and parts of the eastern courtyards.

The monarch also directed the authorities to take full advantage of all the floors of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques project for raising the capacity of the Mataf area to 107,000 circumambulators per hour, Saudi Press Agency reported.

The directioves are besides securing all necessary services to ensure the pilgrims’ comfort. These include providing all the requirements for restrooms and ablution areas, bringing the total number of these facilities to 16,300. Chilled drinking water will be provided in the expansion building, the Mataf and external piazzas. The escalators and lifts will be in operation round-the-clock. Air-conditioning will be available, aside from sufficient lighting, sound, closed circuit TV surveillance and firefighting systems.

The Haram gates that will be opened include King Abdulaziz, Ajyad, Ismail, Al-Fateh and Al-Umrah gates. The pedestrian tunnels leading to Jarwal Area including Al-Aradiyah tunnels will help the pilgrims and worshipers to reach or leave the Grand Mosque in a short time. These tunnels link the northern part of the city with the expansion projects. The first ring road in Makkah will be operational after completion of the project.