Udupi: Haj Flights to Take off from September 29

Udupi, Aug 30: President of Karnataka State Haj Committee, M Salim Ambagilu, said in a press conference held here on Monday August 29 that a total of 5,677 pilgrims have been cleared by the committee for the holy Haj pilgrimage this year from the state. "Out of them, 700 will be from Mangalore centre, 650 from Hyderabad Karnataka, and 4,327 from Bangalore centre," he explained.

Salim informed that the committee had received 12,812 applications under the scheme for the current year, but that the quota fixed by the centre for the state happens to be 5,677.

"For the pilgrims leaving from Mangalore, Haj camp will begin at the old terminal building of Mangalore airport on September 27. The total period of the pilgrimage will be between 42 and45 days. Flights will be operated from Mangalore airport at 6 pm to Madina every day from September 29 to October 3. The Hajis from Mangalore camp will arrive back between November 15 and 19," he added.

The committee plans to invite state Chief Minister, D V Sadananda Gowda, for inaugurating the Mangalor camp, he added.

The committee has plans to built Haj Mahal at Tirumenahalli near Devanahalli Airport in Bangalore, at a cost of about Rs 40 crore. Out of this, the government has already released Rs 15 crore, while minister, Mumtaz Ali Khan, has personally contributed two crore rupees. There are plans to built Haj Mahal in Mangalore too, he explained.

Haji Budan Basha, Arif Kallotte, Dr Rafiq Hoode and others were present at the press conference.