MINISTER OF OVERSEAS INDIAN AFFAIRS & MINISTER OF CIVIL AVIATION
(SHRI VAYALAR RAVI)
(a): Ministry of Civil Aviation makes arrangements for air
travel of pilgrims proceeding for Haj through Haj Committee
of India. For Haj 2008 and 2009, each adult pilgrim paid
Rs.12000/- as fare and Rs.16000/- for Haj 2010 for Haj
Charter Flight. The balance cost of operating Haj Charter
Flights was borne by the Government. State-wise figures of
cost are not maintained. The provisional total cost
(including Service Tax) and per pilgrim cost borne by the
Government for last three years is as under:
Year Total Cost borne Per pilgrim cost by Government borne by Government (Rs. in crore) (in Rs.)
2007 476.74 43,340
2008 894.77 73,526
2009 689.91 57,430
For Haj 2010, the Government has so far released an amount
of Rs.580/- crores towards cost of travel of 1,26,191 pilgrims.
(b): No, Madam.
(c): Does not arise.
(d): The Haj Committee of India (HCI) undertakes the duties
of arrangement of the Haj and takes care of the convenience
of the pilgrims.
(e): Out of the total airfare, a nominal amount of fare is
collected from the Haj pilgrims to make Haj Yatra more
affordable. The pilgrims are carried from/to 21 embarkation
points in India. This year, except from Srinagar and Patna
which had technical constraints, the pilgrims were carried
by direct flights. Specific provisions like facilities to be
provided to pilgrims before and after boarding of flights,
on cancellation/delay of flights, baggage etc. are provided
in the MOU signed with the airlines. Assistance of various
kinds are also made available during their stay in Saudi
Arabia.
