Baghdad: The Ministry of Transportation confirmed on Tuesday the participation of over 60,000 vehicles in the Arbaeen pilgrimage's return transportation plan.

According to Iraqi News Agency, Hussain Ahmed, Director of Media and Government Communication at the Ministry of Transportation, stated that the current Arbaeen pilgrimage is experiencing an unprecedented smooth flow in pilgrim transportation operations. He noted that the holy city of Karbala has not yet faced any road closures or obstacles affecting the return transportation process.

Ahmed highlighted that this Arbaeen pilgrimage is the first to witness such smooth traffic flow, with over 10,000 vehicles from government institutions participating. The Ministry of Transportation has contributed approximately 1,000 vehicles, while the private sector is expected to provide over 50,000 vehicles.

He further explained that 12 trains are involved in transporting pilgrims between Karbala and Basra, and Karbala and Baghdad, with two additional trains on standby. These trains provide 20 trips daily, a number that can be increased during peak traffic.

Ahmed noted that previous pilgrimages often encountered obstacles starting from the 17th of Safar. However, this year has seen a consistently smooth traffic flow due to a flexible security plan that prioritizes public transportation vehicles over smaller ones.

He added that large numbers of pilgrims have been leaving the city sequentially, facilitated by six designated areas at the city's entrances and within the city itself. The expansion of bus storage areas and operational unified garages throughout the period has also contributed to the smooth flow.

Ahmed emphasized that the reduction of the security presence inside the city, compared to previous plans, has enhanced traffic flow. The focus on intelligence efforts and technical elements, as directed by the Supreme Committee for Million-Person Visits, has helped maintain a high level of efficiency in transporting visitors without significant obstacles.