(MENAFN) India's Ministry of Minority Affairs has approved four more embarkation points for Hajj pilgrims, taking the total to 25. This decision comes as a relief for devotees from smaller cities and towns who previously had to use central points such as Delhi or Mumbai, which stretched their journey and expenses.
The four new embarkation points are Kannur and Calicut in southern Kerala, Vijayawada in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, and Agartala in north-eastern Tripura state. The Ministry of Minority Affairs stated that the final number of embarkation points would be subject to a certain minimum number of passengers opting for the airport and the feasibility of setting up related infrastructure.
The decision was made after consultation with Muslim groups, including state Hajj committees. The ministry received demands for more embarkation points during the interaction and discussed the hardships faced by pilgrims due to fewer embarkation points.
After analyzing all the feedback and consulting with stakeholders, the ministry has offered 25 airports as part of the menu of options that has to be exercised by pilgrims for Hajj 2023. Other embarkation points include Srinagar in Kashmir and Chennai in Tamil Nadu.
This move is expected to benefit a large number of pilgrims, particularly those from smaller cities and towns who previously had to travel long distances and incur additional expenses to reach central embarkation points. The expansion of embarkation points will also help to ease congestion at existing points and provide more flexibility to pilgrims.
Overall, this decision by the Indian government is a positive step towards improving the Hajj pilgrimage experience for devotees and increasing accessibility for those from smaller cities and towns.
MENAFN21032023000045012476ID1105824911
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.