Mangalore: This is the sixth year that direct flight services will be operating for Hajj pilgrims from Mangalore International Airport to Madinah in Saudi Arabia. However, despite several promises, the foundation stone for a Hajj Bhavan for pilgrims near the international airport remains a dream yet again.
Even with the increase of number of Hajj pilgrims travelling from the airport with each year, the chief minister, ministers and MLAs have made no attempts for speedy construction of a Hajj Bhavan for the convenience of the pilgrims.
Till the previous year, there was the problem of allotment of land for the purpose of constructing a Hajj Bhavan. This year, that problem was solved with the approval of a land of 2.66 acres in Kenjar near Bajpe airport for the project. But, the inefficiency of the officials and elected representatives have resulted in the stalling of the project.
Even after the sanctioning of the land required, the foundation stone for the structure has not yet been laid.
Five years ago…
The first direct flight for Hajj pilgrims from Mangalore International Airport (MIA) was flagged off in the year 2010, by the then-union minister S M Krishna. Altogether, close to 700 pilgrims set off to undertake their Hajj pilgrimage from the airport.
A Hajj camp for the pilgrims, hailing from Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Chikmagalur and Kodagu districts, had been conducted in the premises of Ansarul English Medium school in Bajpe.
During the flag-off from the airport, S M Krishna and state Waqf minister Mumtaz Ali Khan had assured the pilgrims of aHajj Ghar' in the near future.
However, even after five years, the dream of a full-fledged Hajj Ghar for the pilgrims is yet to be fulfilled in Mangalore.
This year, the first flight carrying Hajj pilgrims will leave for Saudi Arabia from the Mangalore airport on August 27.
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