Haj pilgrims in for double trouble

GAYA: The somewhat strange decision of the Haj Committee directing the pilgrims to report at Patna, not Gaya, the embarkation point has put the nearly 7,000 Mecca-bound pilgrims in a fix and it is going to be double trouble for the pilgrims, majority of them being on the wrong side of age and health.
Unlike the previous two years (2003 and 2004) when the pilgrims took off from the Gaya international airport, the pilgrims will have to get work done at two different points.While the travel documents, identification badges, air ticket, boarding pass and other items will be provided to them at Patna (even the pilgrims from Gaya will have to collect the items from Patna), immigration and security check will be held at Gaya.
Failure of the contractor to maintain the work schedule for the creation of temporary infrastructure including 12,000 sq ft waterproof pandal, temporary toilets, prayer space, cloth changing space and other provisions made the situation somewhat chaotic at the Gaya airport barely 48 hours of the scheduled first flight taking off directly from Gaya airport for Jeddah (Saudi Arabia).
Apparent lack of co-ordination between different agencies including the Airports Authority of India (AAI), government officials, the Haj Committee and the nearly 200 volunteers including private medical professionals has further complicated issues and perceived communication gap between senior officials at Patna and those in the field is also likely to add to the miseries of pilgrims.
When asked about the justification of the reporting point located at Patna Haj Bhawan, 120 km from the embarkation point, state Haj Committee chairman Anisur Rahman Qasmi said the decision to separate reporting point from the embarkation point was taken by the Central Haj Committee.
Moreover, Gaya lacks the necessary infrastructure to accommodate pilgrims for two nights while Patna Haj Bhawan has got enough space for the purpose, said Qasmi. The Haj Committee chairman clarified that the Gaya pilgrims need not personally go to Patna to collect the travel kit. The pilgrims from Gaya can get the documents collected through their authorised representatives and report directly at the Gaya international airport about three hours before the departure time. Two flights will leave Gaya daily from September 17 to fly the pilgrims from the state.
Naushad Ahmad, senior deputy collector and nodal officer of the pilgrimage, said on Saturday afternoon that one more contractor has been engaged to supplement the work being done in the outer area of the Gaya international airport. Now everything will be in place within the deadline, said the nodal officer after reviewing the airport work.
Earlier, on Friday evening a meeting was held at the White House compound residence of orthopaedic surgeon, Farasat Hussain, to review the arrangements and identify the shortcomings. Former MLA Nehal Ahmad presided over the meet.