Jammu, Dec 2: Minister of State for Hajj and Auqaf, Aijaz Ahmed Khan, today convened a high level meeting to put in place a comprehensive contingency plan for lodging and transportation facilities at Jammu for the Hajjis of Kashmir in view of poor visibility at Srinagar Airport.
It was decided in the meeting that Valley bound Hajjis will be provided accommodation at Jammu Hajj House and other hotels like Asia and Ashoka in case the poor visibility and hazy weather necessitated landing of aircrafts at Jammu.
 A team of officers to be headed by Additional Deputy Commissioner Jammu was constituted to coordinate the arrangements for safe and comfortable stay of Hajjis.
 The team with Assistant Commissioner, Central, Superintendent Police and officers from Tourism, TDC, SRTC and Administrator Auqaf as members will stay in touch with Hajj Committee of India and other concerned agencies to make the arrangements in advance.
 The meeting decided that valley-bound passengers will be transported to Srinagar on the same day if their flights land at Jammu before noon. For such Hajjis, lunch and other facilities will also be provided at different places by TDC along the highway. Custom clearance for such Hajjis will be got carried out at New Delhi, the meeting was told.
 It was given out that lodging and boarding facilities have also been made at the Union Capital for the Hajjis, who got retained their due to non-operation of flights to Srinagar Airport.
 Addressing the meeting, the Minister stressed on strong coordination among the concerned departments to make befitting arrangements for Hajjis. He directed for adequate medical, water and power facilities both at Airport and Hajj House.
 He asked Police department to make volunteers/Home guards available for carrying luggage of Hajjis while boarding the buses and dropping at different places of their accommodation.
 Khan directed Traffic Police to ensure smooth operation of buses carrying Hajjis. He also asked Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, to activate Deputy Commissioners of Udhampur and Ramban to ensure safe and secure transportation of Hajjis in view of cold weather.
 Among others, Director General of Police Kuldeep Khoda, Divisional Commissioner Jammu Dr. Pawan Kotwal, DIG Jammu-Kathua Range Farooq Khan, Deputy Commissioner Jammu Sanjeev Verma, Commissioner JMC SC Sawhney and senior officers of PHE, R&B and Power departments attending the meeting.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 2 Dec 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 2 Dec 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 3 Dec 2011 00:00:00 IST