Only 300,000 Haj pilgrims an hour will be allowed at the Jamarat Bridge this year, according to Maj. Gen. Saad Bin Abdullah Al-Khelaiwi, Assistant Commander of Haj Security Forces for Pedestrian Management and Organization. This was part of the overall security and crowd-control plan put in place by the commanders for this year's Haj. Al-Khelaiwi was speaking at a press conference Monday by the security commanders at the Public Security headquarters in Mina. He said the pedestrian management and organization plan for this year focused on developing the positive aspects and tackling any negative aspects. He said some changes were made to the plan based on field observations by public security personnel. Maj. Gen. Muhammad Saleh Al-Shihri, Commander of the Command and Control Center for Haj Security; Maj. Gen. Muhammad Al-Amri, Commander of Administrative Control for Security Affairs; and Maj. Gen. Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Al-Ajlan, Assistant Commander of Haj Security Forces for Traffic Affairs, also presented their observations on security, traffic and safety plans for pilgrims. Al-Khelaiwi said this year Al-Rabita Street has been linked with the second tier of the Jamarat Bridge. This would reduce pressure on King Khaled tunnel and bridge. He said the pedestrian management plan has made some changes this year regarding the 12th of Dhul Hijjah for pilgrims who have completed stoning of the Jamarat and are moving toward the Central Zone or their residences in Makkah. This huge mass of people will be dealt with by directing them onto three routes — 60 percent will be moved along Al-Shisha, Al-Haj and Prince Majid roads; 20 percent via the shaded pedestrian road; and 20 percent via Siddiqi Road as was the arrangement last year. Al-Khelaiwi said 10,000 officers, privates and students have been deployed this year to control pedestrians.
