Bar, the Mayor of Makkah, member of the Central Haj Committee and Chairman and Chief Executive of the Makkah Development Authority, has promised that a number of large projects currently underway in the city will be completed by 2012. Al-Bar told Saudi Gazette that this has been ordered by King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. He said the projects that have been earmarked include the King Abdul Aziz Highway between Makkah and Jeddah, running parallel to the existing highway. He said construction has already started and that it will be a prototype for future road developments in the region. Another project is the construction of eight slaughter houses with modern equipment and an automatic cleaning system, which is also now nearing completion. These slaughter houses will operate under the Islamic Development Bank. The arrangements have been made to slaughter one million animals during the days of sacrifice. There are five other slaughter houses operating under the mayoralty's authority. Al-Bar said there are four pedestrian tunnels, named after King Abdullah, now being built. The tunnels will connect Al-Hujun district and Al-Jarwal District with the Grand Mosque. These tunnels are expected to reduce traffic in the area. A housing project of 5,000 units has also started. These houses will be given to citizens particularly those whose houses have been demolished. This will be an additional benefit, apart from compensation already paid out by King Abdullah, said Al-Bar. He said nine stations are almost completed, which are part of the multibillion railway project linking Arafat, Mina and Muzdalifa. Al-Bar said the King wants other projects also completed by 2012, including the new annex east of the Grand Mosque, the Jabal Omar project near the Grand Mosque, and the high-speed rail between Makkah and Madina.
