JEDDAH — Taxis dedicated to serve Umrah pilgrims, worshipers and visitors to the Grand Mosque in Makah will be launched in six months, according to the Chairman of the Public Transport Authority (PTA) Rumaih Al-Rumaih.

Termed ‘Haram Cabs’, the taxis will ply in the central area of the Haram in Makkah, Al-Rumaih said on the sidelines of the Makkah Economic Forum.

Ordinary taxis will be barred from entering the central area.

The Haram Cabs will have screens carrying signs in all major languages to help Haj and Umrah pilgrims.

A license will allow an investor to own 200 Haram Cabs.

Al-Rumaih said a major public transport project will be carried out in Jeddah.

He said there are new transport projects to be carried out with the partnership between the public and private sectors. Examples include linking Yanbu Al-Sinaia with King Abdullah Economic Port and Jeddah Seaport, the electricity line between Riyadh and Dammam, and developing a new dry dock and logistics zones in Riyadh.

He also mentioned investment opportunities in Haramain Train stations that will accommodate 120,000 passengers per hour, arriving and departing from the stations via 10 platforms.

An alternative service will be launched in Riyadh and Jeddah, with six lanes in Jeddah with 76 buses; and six lanes in Riyadh with 131 buses.