Tehran, August 27 (MRUD NEWS)—Planning for the caravan of Arbaeen pilgrims who go to Karbala on foot each year necessitates coordination of different organizations for conducting the ritual ceremony successfully. 

This year, it is expected that 5 million pilgrims travel from Iran to Karbala (in Iraq) during the Arbaeen procession.

To facilitate the Arbaeen rituals for marchers, Iran Ministry of Roads and Urban Development has initiated measures for making the road routes safe and facilitating the journey with 10,000 billion IRR allocation, told the head of Road Maintenance and Transportation Organization (RMTO). 

Approximately, 8000 bus with capacity of transporting 80,000 pilgrims per a day and 3,300 pilgrims per hour are considered for this religious march. 

Six border crossings are getting ready in Iran to transfer pilgrims to the destination of Karbala including Shalamcheh, Chazabeh, Mehran, Khosravi, Bashmagh, and Tamrchin Borders. 

Moreover, the Pakistani pilgrims can pass through Mirjaveh and Rimdan Borders in Iran to the destination of Iraq. 

Sistan and Baluchistan Province is the eastern gate for receiving foreign pilgrims to Iran. Thus, to improve the safety and ease of the journey of Pakistani pilgrims from Mirjaveh to Shalamcheh Border, safety measures including marking lines, asphalt coating and installation of safety signs, and equipment of the terminal have been carried out within a short period of time and with good quality.

Also, the Rimdan Border Terminal which is newly established is equipped by building and installing canopies, sanitary facilities, installing sanitary water supply tanks, setting up lines and passport gates, and installing suitable places for the establishment of security and customs devices among other measures. 

The coordination meetings were held in the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development for the past few months, and various committees in the rail, road and air transport in the affiliated organizations of the Ministry were formed to make plans and determine the contribution of each department.

The Minister of Roads and Urban Development, Rostam Ghasemi, during a meeting for coordination of Arbaeen procession, added that about 300,000 people will be transported by rail transport, about 60,000 people by air, and about 4,650,000 passengers via the road sector.

He also said currently, the approved rate for the flights is 60 million IRR.