Vijayawada: The AP government and Airports Authority of India made the Haj easier for pilgrims with their immigration formalities, baggage and other checks being carried out at the Madarasa in Nambur, where the Hajis also received their boarding passes.
Thus, the process of their boarding the international flight to Mecca at Vijayawada International Airport took just three to four hours, unlike the seven to eight hours earlier.
AAI authorities set up an x-ray machine, exclusive trace detection equipment and other screening formalities at the Haj House itself. Hajis could thus avoid these formalities at the international airport and boarded their flight directly after the final check.
Authorities took up verification of immigration documents 24 hours before the commencement of the journey. In case of any deficiency, they advised pilgrims to get the errors rectified, so that they do not face trouble at the immigration check when they enter the airport.
As the state government is sending over 1,800 pilgrims beginning from June 7 to June 18, approximately 170 pilgrims are travelling to Mecca each day from the Vijayawada International Airport.
It is for the first time that Haj pilgrims from AP are flying to Mecca directly from Vijayawada, with hassle-free arrangements being made by the AP government, State Haj Committee and AAI authorities. In the past, they used to fly from Hyderabad, Bengaluru and other places. They faced a lot of difficulties in the process.
Haj pilgrims to Mecca from the city have appreciated all the three agencies for extending help and making their pilgrimage hassle-free.
Vijayawada airport director M. Lakshmi Kanth Reddy said, “We have made arrangements for screening of baggage, verification of immigration documents and issue of boarding passes at the Haj House itself. Passengers arrived at the airport just three to four hours in advance. They went through the mandatory security checks and took off for their pilgrimage to Mecca.”
