SRINAGAR: Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti today directed all concerned agencies to work in unison for providing better facilities to the intending pilgrims performing Hajj this year.
Chairing a review meeting to oversee the arrangements for the coming annual pilgrimage, the Chief Minister directed the concerned Departments to gear up their manpower from today to ensure a safe and hassle free leaving to Hajjies to the blessed land.
Minister of State for Hajj & Auqaf, Syed Farooq Andrabi; MP, Nazir Ahmad Laway; legislators, Mushtaq Ahmad Shah, Shah Muhammad Tantray and Saiffudin Bhat(all members of State Hajj Committee) were present in the meeting.
The Chief Minister directed Commissioner, SMC to ensure cleaning of all roads leading to, and premises of, the Hajj House within a day or so. She also directed ensuring an adequate traffic plan so that the pilgrims coming from distant places are not inconvenienced.
The meeting was informed that this year 8106 pilgrims from Jammu & Kashmir are expected to perform Hajj who were chosen from 35212 applications received.
As for the arrangements, the Chief Minister was informed that both the phases of training for the intending pilgrims have been successfully completed under the supervision of the State Hajj Committee.
This year, the meeting was informed, additional 70 beds have been added to the guesthouse at Hajj House, Bemina to accommodate more people and provide them a comfortable stay.
The meeting was also informed that first batch of intending pilgrims would leave from Srinagar on July 25and every day two flights carrying 840 intending pilgrims would leave Srinagar for Saudi Arabia. The last flight would operate on August 03, the meeting was informed.
On the directions of the Chief Minister, every flight would have two Khudaam ul Hujaj on board for the service and guidance of the Hajjies. Also the SIM cards to be issued to the Hajjies would be linked with the boarding passes so that no Hajji gets lost while on pilgrimmage. All such SIM card have been procured by the Hajj Committee, the meeting was told.
The meeting was informed that this year air condition deluxe coaches, fitted with Public Address System, would ferry intending pilgrims from Hajj House to Srinagar Airport. Besides, 100 volunteers of Home Guards would be deployed at the Hajj House & airport for the service and guidance of the intending pilgrims.
Earlier, Executive Officer, State Hajj Committee, Qamar Sajjad briefed the meeting about the arrangements put in place for this year’s Hajj.
Commissioner-Secretary, Hajj & Auqaf, Muhammad Ashraf Mir; Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan; Inspectors General of Police of wings; heads of several Departments including Health, PDD, SRTC, PHE, Airport Authority of India, Air India, SMC, officers of Srinagar district administration and State Hajj Committee were also present in the meeting.
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