MAKKAH — The number of vehicles used for the transportation of pilgrims this Ramadan rose by 14 percent compared to last year, the Makkah newspaper reported quoting governorate sources. There are a total of 480,000 vehicles of various sizes available for the transportation of pilgrims during the holy month, the report said. "These vehicles carry a total of 11 million passengers, which is an increase of 9.5 percent over the previous year. There are several stops near the Grand Mosque where the vehicles pick up and drop pilgrims and visitors. A total of 3 million pilgrims reach the Grand Mosque aboard 210,000 vehicles through Ajyad Al-Masafi Stop alone," said one source. He said 1.58 million pilgrims and 184,000 vehicles use the Bab Ali Stop. "As many as 748,000 pilgrims and 107,000 vehicles use the King Abdulaziz Gate Stop while 335,000 pilgrims and 57,000 vehicles use the Jarwal Stop to reach the Grand Mosque. More than 3.3 million pilgrims arrive through Jabal Al-Kaaba Stop," said the source. The source said 4.9 million pilgrims use the Shaab Amer Stop to reach the Grand Mosque while 600,000 pilgrims arrive through Ajyad Stop and 500,000 pilgrims through Rai Bakhsh Stop," said the source. More than 6 million people from around the world are expected to perform the Umrah pilgrimage by the end of Ramadan since the beginning of the season this year. This is in addition to a similar number of pilgrims from around the Kingdom.
