MoMA defends curbs on safety grounds
Irfan Tramboo
SRINAGAR, June 1: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today urged Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu to ensure that Haj pilgrims returning to J&K receive their checked-in baggage on the same flights carrying them home, amid restrictions at Srinagar Airport that have forced authorities to transport most luggage separately by road.
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In a letter to the Union Minister, Omar expressed concern over the inconvenience being faced by pilgrims returning from Saudi Arabia and sought the Centre’s intervention to facilitate the transportation of their baggage “safely and concurrently” with them.
He said many pilgrims, particularly the elderly, undertake the sacred journey after years of devotion and preparation and should not have to face uncertainty over the delivery of their belongings upon return.
“It is learnt that due to ongoing maintenance works and operational constraints at Srinagar Airport, the checked-in baggage of the pilgrims could not be transported on the same flights carrying them back to J&K,” Omar wrote.
He noted that the baggage was instead being routed through Ahmedabad and transported to Srinagar by road, resulting in delays and causing inconvenience to pilgrims and their families.
The arrangement, he said, was also affecting religious and social customs traditionally observed after Haj, including the distribution of Zamzam water, dates and other offerings among relatives, neighbours and well-wishers.
Seeking urgent intervention, the Chief Minister said timely and secure transportation of baggage would help avoid hardship and ensure that items of religious and sentimental value reach pilgrims without delay.
The letter comes amid growing concern among Haj pilgrims from J&K over revised baggage arrangements for return flights scheduled to begin on June 2.
Meanwhile, according to a clarification issued by the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA) today, payload restrictions have been imposed on aircraft operating to Srinagar Airport because of a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) and ongoing runway maintenance that has temporarily reduced the available runway length.
It said that the restrictions were necessary in the interest of flight safety.
Under the revised arrangement, the Ministry said, Akasa Air flights operating for the Srinagar embarkation point will travel via Ahmedabad.
Pilgrims will be allowed to check in up to 35 kilograms of baggage up to Ahmedabad, but only five kilograms of checked baggage per passenger will be carried on the Ahmedabad-Srinagar sector, it said.
It added that the remaining 30 kilograms will be transported separately by road to Srinagar. “The cabin baggage allowance remains unchanged.”
The Ministry said the arrangement had been necessitated solely by operational and safety requirements and was aimed at preventing disruption to Haj flight schedules.
The decision has, however, triggered resentment among several J&K pilgrims currently in Saudi Arabia.
Some reportedly threatened to boycott their return flights, alleging that the move effectively amounted to a further reduction in baggage allowance despite earlier assurances.
Officials maintained that passenger safety remained the overriding consideration and said coordination was underway among all stakeholders to ensure the smooth and dignified return of pilgrims.
The Haj Committee of J&K has informed pilgrims that baggage not accommodated on return flights will be dispatched separately and is expected to reach Srinagar within a few days of their arrival.
It noted that the pilgrims will continue to be allowed to carry essential items, including valuables and perishable goods, within the prescribed baggage limits.
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