Direct Haj flights from Vijayawada from June 7

Vijayawada: Deputy Chief Minister SB Amzath Basha said that the Haj pilgrimage from Andhra Pradesh would begin on June 7. The first direct flight to Haj carrying 155 pilgrims will leave from Vijayawada International Airport. This is the first time that the AP has got the embarkation point after the bifurcation of the state in 2014. The Deputy Chief Minister, along with Andhra Pradesh State Haj Committee chairman Badwel Shek Gausal Azam, inspected the airport thoroughly on Wednesday in view of the pilgrimage. Airport director Laxmikant Reddy, security officer Venkataratnam and the staff accompanied him.

Amzath Basha said that the flights would be operated from the airport till June 22, adding, the state government was making elaborate arrangements for the safe pilgrimage. Haj committee member and MLC Ishaq Basha, committee CEO L. Abdul Qadeer and other officials were present.