Hassan Cheruppa Saudi Gazette JEDDAH – With the introduction of WhatsApp service and a toll free number for the coming Haj, the Indian Haj Mission has upgraded the high tech services to facilitate a smooth and hassle-free Haj operation. Adahi coupons from the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) will be given to the pilgrims at their embarkation point in India for the first time. This was announced by Indian Consul General B.S. Mubarak and Deputy Consul General and Haj Consul Mohammed Noor Rahman Sheikh at a press conference here on Tuesday. Mubarak said that the mission is keen on making available all the latest high tech services to the pilgrims. Last year, the mission introduced a new state-of-the-art navigation system called “Indian Haj Accommodation Locator” to help pilgrims find their way to their places of accommodation, and around 12,000 pilgrims took advantage of this. “This year, we have strengthened this service with a separate server and made certain improvements in the mobile application, and accordingly an emergency contact button has been provided in the home page of the App. whereby a pilgrim can contact the Indian Haj Pilgrims' Office through its toll free number (8002477786),” Mubarak said. Through this, Mubarak said, the pilgrims can have details of the concerned Khadimul Hujjaj as well as fellow pilgrims. The pilgrims can contact the Haj mission and concerned offices through WhatsApp number 00966 543891481. An SMS alert system has also been introduced. The Indian Haj Mission is the first foreign mission in the Kingdom to come up with the innovative Global Positioning System (GPS) application last year. All arrangements are well in place for ensuring flawless and complaint-free accommodation and transportation of pilgrims, Mubarak and Sheikh said. Majority of pilgrims (64,000) will be accommodated in Aziziyah while 36,000 will have accommodation in green category in Central Haram Area (Markaziyah). Accommodation for pilgrims above the age of 70 will be allotted nearest to the Grand Mosque in Makkah and they will be sent on first flights from each embarkation point. In Madinah, 70 percent of pilgrims will have accommodation in Markaziyah. Eight reputed housing groups are contracted to provide accommodation while two big catering companies, including Saudia Catering Co. are providing meals for pilgrims in Madinah. This year, there will be two standardized baggage for the pilgrims. Mubarak said that the first Haj flight from New Delhi will land in Madinah on Aug. 16 while the first Jeddah flight will be from Hyderabad on Sept. 2. There are three airlines operating Haj service. Saudi Arabian Airlines will operate from 10 embarkation points while Air India and Nas Air will operate from seven and four embarkation points respectively. A total of 136,020 Indian pilgrims are performing Haj this year. They include 100,020 under India's Central Haj Committee and 36,000 who come through private tour operators. Dr. Irshad Ahmad, Press and Information Consul, also attended the press conference.
