For flight from Srinagar, Hajis to pay Rs 36k more
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, November 16
The Haj Committee of India has increased the airfare for the intending Haj pilgrims from Kashmir.
As per the latest airfare rates announced by the Haj committee, the intending Haj pilgrims, who choose Srinagar as the embarkation point for Haj 2018, will have to shell out Rs 35,995 more than those who embark in Delhi.
The steep rise in the airfare for the Srinagar-Delhi leg of the journey has angered intending pilgrims in the Valley, who see the move as a ploy by the government to discourage people from choosing Srinagar Airport as the embarkation point for the holy journey to Makkah and Madina, the two holiest places in Islam.
“The steep rise in Haj airfares is not justified. Anyone travelling from Srinagar to Delhi on his own will have to shell out less for the airfare. This amounts to fleecing by the government,” said Bashir Ahmad from north Kashmir whose relatives are intending to undertake the pilgrimage in 2018.
“The Haj airfare per pilgrim from Srinagar is Rs 1,09,692 while from Delhi it is Rs 73,697. So, the pilgrims from J&K can opt for Delhi embarkation point,” the Haj committee statement said.
As per the statement, the intending pilgrims for Haj 2018 will have to pay Rs 35,995 extra for the Srinagar-Delhi leg of their journey.
The Haj Committee of India recently announced the airfare for the Hajis and also fixed the airfares from Delhi and Srinagar for the Kashmiri pilgrims.
