Tawafa Circle Expansion Studied
Following the success in the Jamrat programme, enabling the accommodation of some 300,000 pilgrims per hour, casting stones at the bridge, authorities are now turning their attention to the expansion of the Tawafa Circle for this season.
The chairman of development projects at the Holy Mosques, Engineer Abduulmohsen Al-Sheikh, said the concerned authorities had prepared studies for widening the Tawafa Circle in order to increase its capacity and accommodate more pilgrims since it was felt that the numbers of pilgrims would increase in the coming years.
He said that a project for expanding the Tawafa Circle was implemented four years ago when lanes were opened on the second floor and also on the roof. This doubled the capacity to accommodate more pilgrims and it also increased their comfort as they performed Hajj.
The General Presidency of the Affairs of the Holy Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque confirmed that these measures will require more time and closer study. It said that help from specialists in this matter would be needed before beginning the execution of the project.
Regarding the possibility of returning the Maqam Ibrahim to a place beside the Kaaba or moving it from its present location, the Presidency said the Maqam Ibrahim, may peace be upon it, is one of the al-ayaat al-bayanaat. Therefore there might be “mistaken practices” around it by those who encircle it. At the same time, to return it to a place beside the Ka’ba would not comply with these “practices.”