Advisor Ganai finalizes Hajj-2018 arrangements

SRINAGAR, JULY 11: The Advisor to Governor, Khurshid Ahmad Ganai today chaired a high-level meeting to finalize arrangements for annual Hajj pilgrimage 2018.

The meeting reviewed arrangements put in place for smooth conduct of Hajj pilgrimage and ensure adequate arrangements at Jeddah and Medina in Saudi Arabia on account of accommodations and other facilities.

The meeting was attended by ADGP Law & Order, Muneer A Khan, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Baseer A Khan, IGP Kashmir Zone, IGP Traffic, DG Health Services Kashmir, Deputy Commissioners’ of Srinagar and Budgam, Managing Director JKPCC and SRTC, SSP Srinagar, Budgam and Anti Hijacking, Chief Engineers PHE and R&B, Commissioner SMC, Regional Transport Officer, Executive Officer State Hajj Committee, Joint Director Information Kashmir and other officers.

Among officers of Central Government, Deputy Commissioner Customs, Director Airport Authority of India (AAI) in Srinagar and Station Manager Indian Airlines Srinagar attended the meeting.

Laying stress on the criticality of the arrangements put in place at the Hajj house and at Srinagar airport, the Advisor Ganai on the occasion directed all the officers to ensure their presence on ground and every facility is provided to the pilgrims while their embarkation for Hajj.

He directed D.C Srinagar to create a WhatsApp group and add all the stakeholders so that the authorities remain abreast with the situation.

It is pertinent to mention that a total of 10,183 pilgrims are leaving for annual Hajj pilgrimage from J&K state among these 8419 are from Srinagar, 1639 and 125 pilgrims are from Jammu and Ladakh respectively.

The first Haj flight from Srinagar International Airport will depart on July 14, 2018 while the last hajj flight from Srinagar airport will be on July 25, 2018, and all outbound Haj flights for Jammu and Kashmir pilgrims will be from Srinagar to Madinah.

The Advisor on the occasion asked AAI to ensure that the hajj flights do not get cancelled due to technical snags or any other issue and directed that if any flight gets cancelled the arrangements of departure for the same flight should be made in the evening or the next day rather than putting up it in queue much to the inconvenience of the pilgrims.

He asked the Custom and Immigration authorities to facilitate smooth and hassle-free clearance of pilgrims at the airport/ Hajj house.

The Advisor Ganai nominated Hajj Officer Mohammad Maqbool as Nodal Officer from Hajj Committee and in case of his absence Firdous Ahmad was directed to perform his duties.

The boarding and lodging facilities for the pilgrims from far flung areas were also discussed in the meeting and the Advisor was assured of adequate arrangements in this regard.

He directed State Haj Committee to ensure that Khudam-ul-Hujaj perform their duties with utmost care, as pilgrims repose great faith in the arrangements made by the State Government. “All required measures should be in place for providing best possible services to the pilgrims in holy land,” Ganai stressed.

The arrangements for transportation of Pilgrims to the Airport were also discussed briefly. The Advisor asked SHC to ensure adequate transport facility for the Pilgrims and sufficient number of containers for lifting their baggage.

The Div Com, DC’s, D.G Health and departmental heads from Security, Traffic, PHE, SMC and Fire and emergency besides a few other departments assured their full cooperation vis-à-vis conducting of smooth hajj to the advisor.