KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
With the first batch of Haj pilgrims scheduled to leave for Saudi Arabia from August, 17, the Hajj and Auqaf Minister, Abdul Rehman Veeri on Wednesday directed officials to ensure all facilities to the faithful to make their stay and travel hassle-free and comfortable.
“All facilities should be ensured to the ‘Aazmeen-e-Hajj’ (Haj pilgrims) to make their stay and travel from and to the state hassle-free and comfortable,” Veeri said while chairing a high level meeting in Srinagar according to an official statement.
The meeting was convened to take stock of arrangements put in place by the State Hajj Committee and various state and central departments for the conduct of this year’s pilgrimage from the state.
During the meeting, the Minister was briefed on the arrangements made by various agencies for smooth conduct of the pilgrimage from the state.
Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Secretary Revenue, Inspector General Traffic, Kashmir, DIG Police Srinagar, DG Fire Services, Chief Engineers of various Engineering Departments, Municipal Commissioner, Srinagar, Director Health Services, Kashmir, Director Airport Authority of India, Srinagar besides other concerned officers attended the meeting.
Veeri expressed gratitude to the Centre for operating direct flights from Srinagar to the holy city of Madina in Saudi Arabia again this year. “It (operational of direct flights) has relieved the Aazmeen-e-Hajj from various difficulties and hassles.”
The meeting was informed that flights for Hajj pilgrims from Srinagar to Saudi Arabia will operate from August 17. While two daily flights will operate between Srinagar and Medina from August 17 to 21, a single flight will operate on a daily basis from August 22 till August 31. Each flight will carry 340 pilgrims, he said. The flights will operate directly from Srinagar to Madina,” the meeting was informed and made known that 6684 pilgrims are proceeding for Hajj from the state this year.
Receiving brief on different aspects of arrangements point by point, Veeri, who is also Vice Chairman of the State Hajj Committee emphasized on ensuring all facilities to the pilgrims to and fro as also at Saudi Arabia. He said all agencies responsible for the conduct of Hajj should work in close coordination to render best services to the pilgrims.
The Minister also directed for a proper strategy to provide best possible services to Hajj pilgrims this year. “In order to facilitate Hajj pilgrims this year, the Executive Officer should devise a strategy for their proper hand-holding, which includes awareness camps for do’s and don’ts and providing unique ID cards for their hassle-free movement at the Srinagar International Airport,” he said.
“The officers involved in the process of Hajj arrangements should also monitor facilitation of pilgrims during security and luggage checking before their departure so that they do not face any difficulty after they alight at the holy city of Medina in Saudi Arabia,” Veeri directed.
The meeting was told that necessary vaccination to the pilgrims has already been completed. Matters pertaining to the transportation of pilgrims from Jammu to Srinagar and the arrangements made for their boarding and lodging at Hajj House were also discussed in detail in the meeting.
Meanwhile the Minister inspected the residential block of the Hajj House Bemina and took stock of the arrangements made for the boarding and lodging of the Hajj pilgrims. He was informed that 200 Hajj pilgrims would be accommodated in the residential block at a time.
The Minister directed the concerned officers for ensuring proper sanitation in and around the Hajj complex. He directed them that Hajis’ should not face any inconvenience while staying in the Hajj house.
