Deputy Chief Minister and Minorities Minister S.K. Amjath Basha. file
Deputy Chief Minister and Minorities Minister S.K. Amjad Basha said that all arrangements for Haj pilgrimage from Andhra Pradesh are being made by the state. He said that for the first time pilgrims would go on pilgrimage from the state.
Shri Basha attended the AP Haj Committee coordination meeting led by Committee Chairman BS Gaus at APIIC Bhawan, Mangalagiri on Tuesday.
Shri Amjath said that the Haj pilgrims would embark on the pilgrimage from Vijayawada International Airport, which has been declared as the embarkation point.
He said that between June 7 and July 19, 1,813 pilgrims would leave for Haj and arrangements were being made to handle 155 pilgrims daily. He said that the state government had sanctioned financial assistance of Rs 14.51 crore at the rate of Rs 80,000 per pilgrim.
He said the pilgrims would be put up at a madrasa near Nambur village in Guntur district before leaving for the airport at Gannavaram. He said that the baggage of the pilgrims would be scanned at the madrassa and sent directly to the airport. To ferry the pilgrims, four APSRTC air-conditioned buses will be pressed into service and a 24×7 medical camp will be set up at the madrasa.
He said the Center is yet to respond to the plea to start the pilgrimage at the nearest airport other than Vijayawada airport.
Krishna District Collector P. Raja Babu, Haj Committee members, representatives of banks, Airport Authority of India, Customs, APSRTC and others were present.