:: Expansion of Prophet’s Mosque ::

The expansion work at the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah aimed at accommodating 500,000 more worshippers will start by the middle of next month, Asharq Al-Awsat daily reported yesterday.

“The proposed expansion of the mosque would be the second largest after the first expansion project launched by late King Fahd in 1986 that created space for one million worshippers at peak times,” Madinah Mayor Abdul Aziz Al-Hussein said on Thursday.

During the first expansion, the mosque’s courtyards were extended to the western side up to Manakha Street, to the east up to Abu Dharr Street and to the north up to Sahaimi Street, which increased the capacity of the mosque to 270,000 worshippers inside and 730,000 in the courtyards.

Three years ago Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah ordered several projects aimed at increasing the capacity and facilities in and around the two holy mosques.
Several billion riyals have already been spent on the projects that include the expansion of Masaa (place for walking between Safa and Marwa); construction of four levels at the Jamrat in Mina; and expansion of the courtyards of the Grand Mosque in Makkah.

The new SR4.7 billion expansion project at the Prophet’s Mosque include 182 huge umbrellas to protect worshippers from sun and rain. The automatic umbrellas will protect approximately 200,000 people. The expansion of the eastern courtyard of the mosque would create an additional capacity for 70,000 worshippers with an underneath parking area for 420 cars and 70 large buses. New toilets and boarding stations will also be built in that area. Three tunnels will also be constructed to connect the mosque with the King Faisal Road 1. The project also includes the construction of new streets and pavements and electrification of the areas around the mosque, the mayor said.

The official added that 586,624 sq. meters of land will be acquired in the area between the King Abdul Aziz Road in the south, Airport Road in the north, the Pillars Street in the east and King Faisal Road in the west for the construction of more utilities and beautification of the city.
When completed, the new project would create space for 500,000 in an area of 137,400 sq. meters.

“In order to facilitate the expansion project, the municipal authorities have already stopped issuing licenses for new buildings near the area earmarked for the project except for buildings meant for pilgrim services,” the mayor said.

(Arab News: 27th December, 2008)