Minister of State for Hajj and Auqaf, Syed Farooq Ahmad Andrabi, today asked the functionaries of Jammu and Kashmir State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) to ensure economical and hassle free transport facility to Hajj-2017 pilgrims.
The instructions were given by the Minister at a high level meeting convened here Monday to discuss the transport arrangements for the pilgrims of Hajj-2017.Commissioner Secretary Revenue, Mohammad Ashraf Mir, Commissioner Secretary Transport, Himat Kumar Sharma, Special Secretary Revenue, Farooq Ahmad Shah, Executive Officer SHC, Managing Director JKSRTC, General Manger Operation JKSRTC and Hajj Officer SHC attended the meeting.The meeting held threadbare discussions on the transport arrangements for the Haj pilgrims and it was said that elaborate transport arrangements would be made by the SRTC for the pilgrims.Andrabi asked the concerned authorities to reduce the bus fare of buses engaged by the Corporation to fetch the Hajjis’ from different location and from Hajj house Bemina to the Srinagar airport.
He also suggested the Corporation officials to accommodate the baggage of Hajjis ‘in the buses from Hajj House Bemina to airport instead of separate luggage carriers.The Managing Director JKSRTC assured the Minister that the corporation would look into ways to reduce the bus fair charges and accommodating the baggage of Hajjis in the buses.The MD also raised the issue of pending liability amount of the corporation with the Revenue Department in the meeting.The Minister asked the Commissioner Secretary Revenue to initiate the process and ensure the clearance of liabilities to the Corporation well in time.To facilitate Hajj pilgrims, the Minister asked the Executive Officer, State Hajj Committee to ensure that pilgrims do not face any inconvenience and their stay at the Haj House Bemina be made comfortable.The Executive Officer State Haj Committee informed the meeting that 35215 applications for Hajj 2017 were received this year and as on date 7965 seats have been allotted to the State under various categories.