Monday, June 6 2005 15:22 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Keeping in view the mounting demand, Government today (Jun 6, 2005) said that the number of Indian pilgrims who would perform Hajj 2006 has been increased by 10,000 to touch 1.37 lakh.

Of these, 82,000 pilgrims would perform Hajj through the Hajj Committee, which is the same number as this year (2005). The remaining 55,000 pilgrims, up from 45,000, would undertake the pilgrimage through private tour operators.

For their journey to Saudi Arabia, one lakh pilgrims would proceed from various embarkation points in India to Jeddah while the remaining 37,000 would proceed directly to Madina, External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh said in New Delhi, addressing the All India Annual Hajj Conference.

For the return journey, 97,000 pilgrims would come from Jeddah and the remaining 40,000 from Madina.

The Minister said that the space norm for accommodation of pilgrims in Makkah has been enhanced from three sq.m to 3.5 sq.m per pilgrim.

Under another category of accommodation being introduced, Indian pilgrims can opt to stay between 1001 to 1200 meters for the Haram Sharief at the rate of Saudi Riyal 1050 per person, he said.

Of the 82,000 pilgrims going under the aegis of the Hajj Committee, 52,000 are likely to be carried by Saudi Airlines and the remaining 30,000 by Air India.

Singh said it was proposed to add Bhopal or Indore as an additional embarkation point during the next Hajj. He suggested that Jodhpur should also be considered as an additional point in this regard.