Hyderabad, March 24: As preparations are on for the 2011 edition of Haj, authorities are hopeful that next year pilgrims will embark on the consecrated journey from a new Haj House. This follows Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy’s decision to allot land near the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Shamshabad.
Announcement
The Chief Minister made this announcement during the Rachabanda programme held in the old city on February 3. The State Haj Committee has promptly sent a proposal seeking allotment of 10 acres of land and sanction of Rs. 12.51 crore for construction of the new Haj House.
Authorities hope the government will earmark the funds in this year’s budget so that work can start immediately.
Land allotment
The Wakf Board, it is said, is willing to allot the required land in survey No. 99/1 of Mamidipally village in Saroornagar Mandal near the Shamshabad airport.“The matter is now pending with the government. If land and funds are allotted, the new structure will be ready by next year,” says Haj Committee chairman, Syed Khaleeluddin Ahmed.
Accommodation
The initial proposal submitted to government provides for accommodation of 4,000 pilgrims and as many visitors at a time in the new Haj House.
Obviously authorities have kept in mind future needs in view of the increasing number of pilgrims every year.
The new Haj House will come up on a built up area of 5,576 sq. metre. Besides a mosque, it will have a hospital with all facilities.
Space is also proposed for counters of Central Haj Committee, Passport issuance, immigration, customs halt area, bank, A.P. Transco.
Centralised kitchen
A centralised kitchen is proposed with a 4,000-capacity dining hall.
There will be adequate parking facility to accommodate pilgrim vehicles numbering 500, visitors (1500), officials (200), RTC buses (20) and DGT vans (10) is planned.
Congested
The need for a spacious Haj House is felt with the existing premises becoming congested even though it boasts of an 11-storyed structure.
There is simply no place to accommodate pilgrims from districts with the result they are forced to sleep in the corridors.
With bigger premises, the accommodation problem will be a thing of the past, it is hoped.
-Agencies