Khaberni - Minister of Interior, Mazen Al-Faraya, visited the King Hussein Bridge today, Sunday, to inspect the progress of work procedures and to assess the level of services provided to travelers.
During the visit, Al-Faraya met with bridge officials and the executive director of the Jett passenger transport company, to discuss issues and observations related to operations.
He mentioned that a tender is currently being executed to develop the infrastructure, and waiting lounges and shelters equipped with essential services have been established for travelers, with ongoing efforts to improve them based on available resources. Other infrastructure projects are also set to start in the upcoming days.
He added that the development project includes the construction of new buildings and shipping yards and a comprehensive public transport station, with ongoing efforts to refurbish the passport lounges.
Al-Faraya pointed out the unique status of the King Hussein Bridge, as it connects Jordan with the Palestinian territories, and the opposite side is subject to Israeli procedures. It is not merely a border center but a humanitarian passage, with certain restrictions that limit the number of buses and passengers and dictate the operating hours or sometimes sudden closure by the opposite side, which leads to several issues including the impossibility of booking on the platform for several days.
Al-Faraya emphasized the importance of the electronic platform and its effectiveness in facilitating travel procedures and organizing advanced online ticket reservations, according to the capacity determined by the Israeli side.
He also mentioned that reasons for congestion in the bridge area include travelers arriving early at the bridge area or arriving without having issued travel tickets through the platform, and inadequate planning in purchasing tickets before the date of travel for both departure and return trips.
Al-Faraya also rejected claims of inappropriate handling of travelers, reaffirming Jordan's supportive stance and solidarity with the Palestinian brethren, and its persistent dedication to preserving their dignity and defending their rights. He pointed out that those criticizing the platform have clear commercial interests in its cancellation, aiming for profit.
The Minister of Interior conducted a field tour of various bridge facilities and reviewed the services provided, during which he praised the procedures followed by the various agencies working at the bridge and their role in facilitating the procedures according to a clear operational system. He also listened directly to some observations from the travelers and urged the concerned parties to take immediate actions to address some administrative observations.
