New Initiative for Indian Hajis
In a key initiative, Indian Hajis arriving at Jeddah Airport will now have the opportunity to travel to Makkah via the Haramain High-Speed Train, smoothening the overall pilgrimage.
Comfortable Journey and Reduced Travel Time
Traditionally, all pilgrims traveling from Jeddah to Makkah have used buses provided by Saudi authorities. However, this year, special arrangements have been made by the Consulate General of India in Jeddah, in association with Saudi authorities, to transport around 32,000 Indian Hajis using the high-speed rail service.
- This new initiative promises a comfortable journey for the pilgrims.
- The Haramain High-Speed Train is capable of reaching speeds of up to 300 km/h, cutting the travel time by half compared to the bus service.
Inaugural Journey and Collaborative Efforts
On May 26, the inaugural journey of this new service was marked by the presence of key officials. Indian ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Dr Suhel Ajaz Khan, and Consul General Mohd Shahid Alam escorted the first group of Indian pilgrims on the train from Jeddah Airport to Makkah.
“This is not only a first for Indian pilgrims but also an inaugural experience for Saudi authorities in transporting Hajis by train directly from Jeddah Airport to Makkah,” Ambassador Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan said.
- The introduction of the high-speed train service is seen as a significant step towards improving the logistics of the Haj pilgrimage.
- It also shows the collaborative efforts between Indian and Saudi authorities.
Smooth Implementation and Total Number of Hajis
The Indian consulate in Jeddah has been working closely with Saudi authorities to ensure the smooth implementation of this new facility. This year, a total of 175,000 Hajis from India will perform the Hajj pilgrimage, with 140,000 of them facilitated by the Haj Committee of India. The remaining pilgrims will travel through private tour operators.