Govt Set To Revive Sea Route Option For Haj Pilgrims

Hyderabad: The last date to apply online for Haj pilgrimage 2019 is about to end, but whether the pilgrims will be traveling by sea is not yet clear. The Ministry of minority affairs is still waiting for an official nod from Saudi Arabia. This has left pilgrims in a dilemma.

According to the Haj Policy 2018, ministry of minority affairs said “all set to resume the use of sea route for pilgrims. Last a ship to make a haj trip was 23 years ago in 1995." This mode of transport is supposedly cheaper when compared with traveling by air. The ship called MV Akbari, which ferried pilgrims to Jeddah has become dysfunctional. Over a period of time, people also lost interest in travelling by sea.

Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi Union minister for minority affairs had earlier in January this year, announced that Saudi Arabia had agreed to India’s request to revive the sea route for Haj pilgrims from Mumbai to Jeddah. But official nod has not yet been received, causing a delay for pilgrims the following year.

The dip in costs incurred is not going to be as cheap as people are estimating it to be. The pilgrims have to travel to Mumbai and stay there for a minimum of couple of days before the sea-bound voyage begins.

Special Officer, TS Haj Committee, Prof. S.A. Shukoor said“people are seeking the schedule and process of pilgrimage through the sea voyage because the general perception is that it is cheaper. We are unable to give them any assurance unless we get confirmation from the Haj Committee of India.”

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