The northern wing of the Grand Mosque will be expanded in conformity with the modernization of Jabal Omar, Jabal Khandamah, Darb Al-Khalil and its adjacent road, and the Mas'a area. Roads, tunnels, car parking slots and escalators will also come up across these areas. Expansion of the Grand Mosque and its surrounding areas is part of the 10-year modernization plan announced by Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah. Over the next five years, the central area in Makkah will attract modernization projects at a cost of SR100 billion. The projects will be carried out by major local companies and will cover the areas of Ajyad Al-Masafi, Al-Sadd, Al-Masfalah, Al-Qurat, and Al-Hajra. These mega projects will extend to parts of Al-Nikasa area also, Okaz reported. The total project area is estimated at more than 1.2 million square meters, in addition to King Abdul Aziz Road project. The plan also envisages multiple roads, servicing of the central area, increasing the accommodating capacity of housing units, creating multiple uses for land, improving the environment by reducing use of private means of conveyance, and pollution-free substitutes for public transport. Solving the problem of squatters has been accorded top priority in the 10-year Makkah development plan. About 42.4 percent of the planned cost has been be earmarked to eradicate this menace. On an average the municipalities in Makkah Region are to get SR12.7 billion a year to develop the infrastructure and other projects. The amount earmarked for roads, tunnels, and bridges projects represents the largest share at 58 percent of the total cost, Okaz reported. Engineer Adel Faqih, Mayor of Jeddah, hoped that the plan achieves an unprecedented development stride. Based on studies, Faqih said there are approximately 50 squatter areas with a population of 2,226,000 people occupying 55 million sq. meters of land. Faqih said a large project is currently undertaken by Jeddah Development and Urbanization Company for a total cost of SR210 billion, including SR170 billion for modernization and SR40 billion for sequestration of land and property. The three-tier Khuzam Palace project's area is 850,000 sq. meters. Other projects include providing a suitable location for the Organization of the Islamic Conference, renovation of King Abdul Aziz Palace which will be converted into a national museum, and modernization of the squatter areas surrounding the location. Faqih affirmed that the total cost of projects under construction in Jeddah Governorate has passed the SR1.5 billion mark while the ongoing maintenance and operation projects will cost more than SR560 million. Major projects under construction include tunnels at 12 intersections to achieve a smooth flow of traffic in Jeddah for a total cost of SR690 million. This is in addition to the projects for drainage which will cost SR459 million, paving and sidewalk projects for more than SR284 million, the Eastern Wood project at SR24 million, and the boosting of the production efficiency of the existing sanitary water treatment plant at Al-Aslaa valley. Faqih said road maintenance and upgrading has received a generous share of the budget at SR416 million while allocations for maintenance of lighting at the main axes and of lighting posts and systems amount to approximately SR70 million. Maintenance of rainwater drainage project will cost more than SR34 million. Faqih said that works is also under way for filling in roads that have caved in because of the previous excavation projects for drainage. __
