Govt plans Haj House in Vijayawada: MLC

Rajamahendravaram: The state government is considering the construction of Haj House with international standards with Rs 50 crore in four acres area in Bhavanipuram in Vijayawada, MLC MA Shariff informed here on Wednesday.

He recalled that Haj House was built in Hyderabad in undivided Andhra Pradesh and two states would have right on that for 10 years. He said that the state government was constructing Haj House in Kadapa in the wake of bifurcation of the state. Stating that the government was committed to construct Haj House in Vijayawada, he said that efforts were on to provide flight facility from Vijayawada to Mecca directly.

He attended the training for Haj pilgrims of twin Godavari districts held under the aegis of Godavari Haj Society in Rajamahendravaram on Wednesday.

Speaking on the occasion, Shariff reiterated that the state government was providing every kind of assistance for Haj pilgrims and appointed officials to make sure that they would not face hardships till they reach their homes after visiting Mecca.

Stating that 1.20 lakh pilgrims were given permission to visit Mecca during last year, he mentioned that one lakh pilgrims were given permission this year as the extension works were going on at Mecca. He maintained that 1,450 pilgrims went for Mecca in the year 2014-15 and permission was given for 2,450 pilgrims this year. He informed that Rs 15 crore was allocated by the government in which Rs 13 crore was being used to construct Haj House in Kadapa and the remaining Rs three crore would be used for pilgrims. He further said that Haj pilgrims from Telangana state would begin their journey first and pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh would begin their journey three days later. He made it clear that pilgrims should reach Haj House three days before the journey.

Habibullah Baig, Nazeeruddin, Kadhar Khan and SK Subhan orgnaised the programme under the aegis of Godavari Haj Society and the Unique Muslim Welfare Association.