MADINAH — Jabal Adqes, a hilltop village located 100 km south of Madinah, is replete with enchanting natural scenes. The area can be developed into a marvelous tourist site, say its residents. However, tourists and visitors find it difficult to reach the place because of the unpaved road. "We have been calling upon authorities to asphalt the road for the past 25 years," said Owaid Al-Ruwaitiee. Naturally traveling to Jabal Adqes, also known as Jabal Khashab, has become difficult and dangerous as vehicles could overturn while driving through the hillside road. "Huge rocks are likely to fall on travelers," Al-Ruwaitiee said emphasizing the need to build a safe two-way road to the village to facilitate transport agricultural crops to the market. "Situated above the sea level by 2,000 meters, Jabal Adqes can be developed into a beautiful tourist destination in Madinah but it lacks essential services," Al-Ruwaitiee said. He said the residents of the village had approached the Transport Ministry's office in Madinah about 25 years ago requesting them to asphalt the road but the reply was in the negative. He said they were not demanding the impossible. "We want asphalting of only 14 km of unpaved road to reach the top of the mountain. A two-way road will ensure safety of travelers." Abdul Raheem Al-Sahli criticized authorities for ignoring the demand for a road for the last several years. "This road should have three diversions to reach Yutma, Qaha and Wadi Al-Farae," he added. Abdul Rahman Al-Ruwaitiee said the present narrow road was constructed by residents at their personal expense. "We still keep the bill for paying the construction cost." He said the lack of paved roads had negatively affected the residents' life and business. "They are unable to market their agricultural products including honey," he said hoping that authorities would soon listen to the residents' plea to have an asphalted road. According to him, Jabal Adqes receives heavy rains every year and there are lots of basins, juniper trees and greenery. Its salubrious climate attracts many tourists including Saudis and foreigners. "We hope the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage would take the initiative to develop the village into a tourist resort," Al-Ruwaitiee told Okaz/Saudi Gazette. Abdullah Mused Al-Ahmady, director general of the Transport Ministry, said his organization would give top priority to construct the road to Jabal Adqes. "We'll start the project soon after receiving budget allocations," he added.
