Saudi Arabia, Sept 25: Saudi King Salman on Tuesday inaugurated a high-speed railway linking Mecca and Medina, Islam's holiest cities, described by local officials as the biggest transportation project in the region.
The Haramain High-Speed Rail system will transport Muslim pilgrims, as well as regular travellers, 450 kilometres (280 miles) between the two cities via the Red Sea port of Jeddah in two hours.
"This project is considered the biggest transport project in the Middle East," Mohammed Falaha, a Haramain project manager, told AFP.
Thirty-five passenger trains capable of travelling at speeds of 300 kilometres per hour will slash the travel time from several hours to 120 minutes, transport officials said.
The rail project, dogged by several delays, was built at a cost of more than $16 billion, according to Saudi media.
In 2011, Saudi Arabia signed a deal for a Spanish consortium to build the rail track, supply 35 high-speed trains and handle a 12-year maintenance contract.
The kingdom is boosting its infrastructure spending and expanding its railways, including with a $22.5 billion metro system under construction in the capital Riyadh, as it seeks to diversify its oil-dependent economy.
The annual hajj pilgrimage, which is to be held in September next year, attracts more than two million Muslims to the Mecca region.
Courtesy: www.khaleejtimes.com
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Bengaluru: Amid soaring mercury levels in the state, the Indian Meteorological Department has forecasted sunny and dry weather conditions to prevail across the state for the next two weeks. In this background, the state government has released guidelines and also has instructed district administrations to strictly keep vigil till April 15th.
As per IMD data, Kalaburagi recorded a maximum temperature of 40 degree celsius, while Mangaluru registred a temperature of 31 degree celsius on Thursday (March 28).
The Karnataka Health Department taking to its official ‘X’ account posted regarding the heat-related health advisory
The guidelines issued are as follows:
► Increase water intake. Consume buttermilk, fresh water, and fruit juice frequently.
► Include vegetables and fruits with high water content in your diet.
► Wear loose, light-colored cotton clothing and breathable footwear.
► Take precautions when going outside, such as wearing sunglasses, carrying an umbrella, or using sun protection.
► Stay informed about local weather conditions through radio, television, or newspapers and plan outdoor activities accordingly.
ಬಿಸಿಲಿನ ತಾಪದಿಂದ ರಕ್ಷಣೆ ಪಡೆಯಲು, ಆರೋಗ್ಯವನ್ನು ಕಾಪಾಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ಸಾರ್ವಜನಿಕರು ಇಲ್ಲಿ ನೀಡಲಾಗಿರುವ ಸಲಹೆಗಳನ್ನ ಪಾಲಿಸಿ#HeatWave #Summer #StayHydrated #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/C5sUy5M0CN
— K'taka Health Dept (@DHFWKA) March 27, 2024