JEDDAH: The operation this Haj of the multibillion riyal Holy Sites Train, also known as the Mashair Train, has reduced the traffic on the roads by a staggering 3,000 buses, according to Abdul Gadier Al-Jabarti, head of the Haj Committee at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI). Al-Jabarti also called on government to control Haj package prices to make the holy pilgrimage more affordable for domestic pilgrims. He said the Mashair Train was already effectively tackling “unbearable” traffic jams at the holy sites. When it is completed next year the project will reduce the traffic by 30,000 buses. The SR6.5-billion train project is only operating at 35 percent capacity at the moment. When completed it will be able to transport 70,000 pilgrims an hour. It will eventually be linked to Makkah. He said the train's project has contributed to the development of Muzdalifah and also made it possible for several pilgrims to spend the night there. Al-Jabarti said 240 companies are currently catering for between 170,000 to 240,000 domestic pilgrims. He said domestic pilgrims are divided into a number of groups. A new group, known as the “Jamarat Tower Group” is housed at six towers and is the closest to Al-Jamarat Bridge. There are about 18,000 pilgrims in this group and are each charged between SR9,000 to SR15,000 for Haj. The second group consists of 34,000 pilgrims and each person is charged between SR5,000 and SR7,000 because they are the second closest to Al-Jamarat Bridge. The second category has 70,000 to 80,000 pilgrims, with each one paying SR4,500 to SR5,500. The last group, furthest away from Al-Jamarat comprises 70,000 to 80,000 pilgrims with each paying between SR2,500 and SR3,500. He said pilgrims spend between SR1,000 and SR2,000 on gifts and other expenses. Local pilgrims have also spent SR250 on train tickets which are valid for seven days. Fadhl Albuainain, an economic expert, said the cost of Haj is set to increase over the coming years, and called on the government to tighten control over Haj operators or set a price ceiling. He said many domestic pilgrims were still sleeping out in the open because of the high costs of Haj. He suggested that prices should be set between SR1,000 and SR6,000. Meanwhile, economic sources have estimated that 40 percent of domestic pilgrims are non-Saudis and are legal residents.
