Saudi plans monorail for Muslim holy places: report

Riyadh (ANTARA News) - Saudi Arabia is planning a five billion dollar
monorail network to transport millions of pilgrims around the Muslim
holy sites during the annual hajj pilgrimage, a Saudi daily reported on
Monday.

The oil-rich desert kingdom is to carry out a feasibility study into
the proposed network of five lines linking Muzdalifah, Mina and Arafat,
the English-language Arab News reported.

Nearly 2.4 million people flock to the holy sites during the hajj, posing huge logistical and safety problems.

Pilgrims travel to Muzdalifah to collect stones that are used in Mina as part of a ritual stoning of the devil.

The hajj culminates on the holy mount of Arafat, where Prophet Mohammed
delivered his final sermon 14 centuries ago in an event which
symbolises the Last Judgement.

This year's pilgrimage begins later this month and is expected to
culminate on December 19 or 20. The hajj is one of the five pillars of
Islam which all able-bodied Muslims must undertake once in a lifetime
if they have the means. (*) END