Gate of Grand Mosque closed for expansion

(MENAFN- Arab News) MAKKAH: The General Presidency of the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques has closed the King Abdul Aziz gate of the mosque in Makkah to complete the third phase of the expansion of Mataf an online newspaper reported.
This phase include the construction of the surface of the south side of the mosque and linking it to the surface Masa'a.
Sultan Al-Qarshi director general of projects was quoted as saying that the work would continue till the middle of next month. The work will continue round the clock so that the part of work is completed by Haj.
The work once completed would make the movement of pilgrims easy during tawaf (circumambulation of Kaaba).
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman recently launched five projects for the expansion of the Grand Mosque which is in its third phase and includes buildings tunnels and a ring road.
The main entrance of the new building of the mosque will comprise three gates with two shutters. It will have three floors with a floor space of 320000 sq. meters to accommodate 300000 worshippers and the ground area of 175000 sq. meters to accommodate 330000 worshippers.
The project includes five pedestrian tunnels that will connect the Holy Mosque with Al-Hajoun and Jarwal with a total length of 5300 meters.
There will also be a central services complex to accommodate a power station emergency electricity generators water cooling facilities and fire extinguishers.
A 4600-meter ring road which will be constructed in the central area will consist of bridges for movement from the central area to the exit area through three pathways.
'This historic expansion includes 1470000 sq. meters. The Grand Mosque accommodates more than 1600000 worshipers with 78 gates on the ground floor surrounding the expansion building' said Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais head of the presidency of Two Holy Mosques.
Finance Minister Ibrahim Al-Assaf said the third expansion phase will see the extension of the previous historic expansions. 'The five projects include expansion of the building masaa and mataf expansions external squares tunnels services building hospital transportation stations and the first ring road.