By Abdullah Al-Dhibyani

Okaz/Saudi Gazette

MAKKAH — So far 116,000 vehicles have passed through the six-lane Al-Shumaisi checkpoint located on Jeddah-Makkah expressway during the month of Ramadan, according to Makkah Traffic Department Checkpoint Assistant Director Col. Abdulmohsen Al-Manna.

He said Al-Shumaisi checkpoint, which works 24 hours a day, has qualified police officers, Red Crescent and Civil Defense personnel.

Al-Manna said that five parking lots have been allotted at the entrance of Makkah for people traveling to the holy city from Jeddah.

“Pilgrims or visitors coming to Makkah park their vehicles in these parking lots and take the bus to get to the Grand Mosque. At the end of their Umrah, they are taken back by buses to the parking lot so they could drive themselves home,” said Al-Manna.

He said the vehicles parked in the parking lots are closely monitored and protected.

He said the parking lots can accommodate 25,000 vehicles.