Haj House to be inaugurated in Kashmir tomorrow

Srinagar, Nov 7 (UNI) The newly constructed Haj House, billed unique and the first of its kind in the country, would be inaugurated here tomorrow.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and Union Water Resources Minister Saif-ud-din Soz would jointly inaugurate the Haj House at Bemina here.

The inauguration comes three days ahead of the departure schedule of the Haj pilgrims to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Spread over 50 kanals (2.5 hectares) of land, the Haj House was being constructed in two phases at a cost of Rs 10.50 crore.

The project was taken up on June 6 last year with the first phase, comprising four common facility blocks, nearing completion in about 300 working days.

The Haj House would accommodate about 400 pilgrims after the completion of its second phase. The pilgrims would not then be staying in hotels or other places here.

After undergoing all the formalities and availing the facilities, the Haj pilgrims could straightway move to the Srinagar airport for boarding the flights.

The main feature of the complex was its lounge-cum-reception, paper collection, baggage-cum-airlines land immigration blocks spread over an area of 2331 sq mt. Adequate care has been taken on its landscaping.

The Haj pilgrims would get the facilities such as immigration, custom clearance and foreign exchange distribution under one roof.

The Haj House, according to officials, would emerge as an iconic site in the capital city and serve as a single point facility centre for the pilgrims.

UNI