MADINAH — Citizens and residents of the Prophet's City are hopeful that new Mayor Abdul Rahman Al-Hadlaq would expedite work on about 150 stalled residential plans in the city and take initiatives to implement a number of vital projects to change the city's face and provide world-class services to visitors. They also want expansion of the mayoralty's e-services, construction of modern parks and improvement of road and transport facilities to reach the Prophet's Mosque. Madinites believe Al-Hadlaq would speed up the execution of 150 residential plans stalled for the last two years. The holy city receives nearly 10 million visitors every year including foreign pilgrims who come for Haj and Umrah. The government has given top priority for the development of the two holy cities of Makkah and Madinah. Mohammed Al-Ali, adviser to the Madinah emir for project affairs, said the new mayor should implement the comprehensive city development plan prepared by the Madinah Development Authority with the support of international consultants. "The comprehensive plan comprises integrated programs to implement service and infrastructure projects all over Madinah," he said. It also covers education, health, transport, municipal and social services. The mayoralty will execute the plan in coordination with government departments. Abdul Ghani Al-Ansari, former chairman of the Madinah Municipal Council, hoped that the new mayor would focus on expanding and improving the mayoralty's e-services to save time and energy of people approaching the organization for various services. "The mayoralty should also try to finance its projects using own funds, generated through investment projects," he said. The mayor should give priority to complete the 150 new residential plans, he added. Al-Ansari wanted the mayoralty to intensify inspections on groceries, restaurants and coffee shops to ensure they follow rules of hygiene. He called for the establishment of advanced fun cities and parks including special parks for drawing, graffiti, science and technology. "We should open a new market to sell goods of cottage industries and another market for dates," Al-Ansari told Okaz/Saudi Gazette. A new road system should be constructed for worshipers to reach the Prophet's Mosque easily and comfortably, avoiding traffic bottlenecks. "We should increase parking facilities around the mosque," he added. Majdi Al-Muhammadi, a member of the Madinah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, urged Al-Hadlaq to change senior officials of vital departments in order to accelerate the development process. "There are many disrupted projects such as the inter-junction on Al-Salam Road with the Universities Road as well as the regional plan for which Abdul Aziz Al-Hosain laid the foundation several years ago. We hope the new mayor would take the initiative to jumpstart these projects," he said. Al-Muhammadi also wants the mayoralty to soften regulations and conditions to woo investors. "Many of our roads and streets need repair works," he said while urging the Madinah Development Authority and mayoralty to work together for the city's development as one team. Abdul Ghani Al-Qesh, representative of the Saudi Journalists Association in Madinah, summed up the demands of citizens from the new mayor by saying: "Al-Hadlaq should try to provide world-class services coping with Madinah's stature, realizing the hopes and aspirations of citizens and visitors. He called for the establishment of attractive gates at the entrances and exits of the city and modern parks for people of different age groups to spend their spare time for relaxation.
