Eight tunnels are being constructed in Makkah to help ease congestion in the city, according to Arab News.
The projects include two tunnels for pedestrians, three emergency tunnels for rapid evacuation purposes, two tunnels for sewage and electricity, and one for services.
“The tunnels are constructed as part of King Abdullah Project for Expansion of Makkah and holy sites,” one source said, adding that they would be ready for use shortly.
Located next to each other, the pedestrian tunnels are 16m wide, 8.3m high and 740m in length. Starting at the side Masaa (the running area between Safa and Marwa), the pedestrian tunnels run to Hajoun, according to the source.
Makkah is currently undergoing a major redevelopment, including a $21.3bn (SAR 80bn) expansion of the Grand Mosque at the centre of the city.
Recent years have seen a gradually increasing number of people visit the city for the Muslim pilgrimage of Hajj, with 2012 recording a figure in excess of 3 million.
—Agencies