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Hajj pilgrims to fly directly to Jeddah
KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 9/12/2012 12:07:57 AM
SRINAGAR, Sep 11: As the first flight on September 17 will take the first batch of Hajj pilgrims to Jeddah, it will be an easy holy journey for the highest-ever number of believers undertaking it.
The state government has received the nod to operate direct flights from Srinagar International Airport to Jeddah, which will reduce the travel duration to almost half.
“Indian Airlines is operating flights from Srinagar to Saudi Arabia directly for this year’s Hajj pilgrimage,” the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, who is also the chairman of the state Hajj Committee, told a preview meeting here today.
The system of direct flights to Saudi Arabia for the pilgrims was introduced in the state in 2008. But it was later suspended, disappointing the pilgrims who had to first fly to New Delhi for boarding the plane to Jeddah. The indirect flights have been both tiring and time consuming.
This year the state government has been pressing upon New Delhi for resumption of the direct flights.
“The direct operations of Hajj flights by the Indian Airlines would make the pilgrimage smooth and relieve the intending Hajj pilgrims of the burden of transshipment from one aircraft to another,” Omar said.
Over 9000 people from Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh regions are undertaking the annual pilgrimage this year. It includes, as per the government figures, around 8670 pilgrims under the state quota and around 500 using the private operators’ services.
Starting Monday, around 270 pilgrims will be leaving for the holy city daily. The Hajj committee has already announced the schedule for the first four days while time table of the remaining lot will be made public soon.
The resumption of the direct flights is seen as the pilgrims as the much-needed respite. Several pilgrims who spoke with Kashmir Times termed it as a “positive development” ahead of the commencement of the pilgrimage.
“The government has ended the confusion (about flights to Jeddah) and it is good news for all of us,” Abdul Majeed, a pilgrim scheduled to fly on September 29, said, “The journey will now be much easy and less time consuming.”
“It is welcome development,” Muhammad Ashraf, another pilgrim, added, “We have an international Airport here. And operating direct flights makes sense.”