Enraged Haj committee decides to shift flights to another airport from next year.
By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
Hyderabad: GMR group beats its chest over the management of Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Shamshabad in Hyderabad considered to be one of the world’s finest. But close to 7,000 Haj pilgrims from three different states arriving at its temporary Hajj terminal is facing horrific experience to say the least.
A temporary Haj terminal was first setup in 2008 at RGI Airport to facilitate journey of Haj pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh and for their relatives who turn up in large numbers to receive them. Since past seven years temporary arrangement remained the same. This temporary tin shade point is used as a VIP parking lot for the rest of the year and as Haj terminal during the season.
In the absence of a roof people taking shelter inside a tent.
This year close to 7,000 Hajj pilgrims from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka (three districts) took up their journey from Hyderabad. The arrival of those pilgrims started from October 20th and each day close to 300 Hajis are arriving from charted airlines.
To provide a shade for receiving relatives two large cloth tents supported by tall bamboos were erected in front of the terminal. Airport which make tall claims of international standards have a complete dry soil surrounding the terminal.
Sporadic rains in the city washed up all the claims of services at the Haj Terminal. During the arrival of second Khafila of Hajis chaos erupted as heavy winds led to fall of a tent in which nearly 200 relatives of Hajis were taking shelter.
Witnessing the chaos officials closed the doors of Hajj terminal and waited for rain to stop and crowd to subdue. Meanwhile anxious relatives waited for three hours, all wet in heavy rain.
In the absence of chairs visiting relatives sit on ground.
When gates were opened a Haji and his relatives exchanged blows with security officials as they pushed him to make way for halted passage of other Hajis near the narrow doors of the terminal.
Apart from enduring chaos the first thing welcoming Hajjis at the arrival to their home land was thick and wet mud everywhere. Rains transformed dry soil surrounding the terminal into thick mud which caused extreme difficulty for Hajis to push their luggage trolley from wet way to their vehicles at parking lot, again standing over mud.
Trolley wheels were getting stuck in the mud at the exit gate of the terminal blocking traffic of other pilgrims. There were incidents where suitcases and bags of Hajis fell down in the dirt, as trolley jammed inside the mud don’t even move, although three other Haj volunteers were using their force over it.
Rayees Fatima, who has just come back from pilgrimage, told TwoCircles.net that inside the terminal there was not even a belt system to pick up the luggage. “Hajis have to look out for their belongings scattered on the ground and arrange those 40kg weighting each bag on trolleys by themselves. Aged Hajis, who comprise the maximum of pilgrims, faced extreme difficulty as they couldn’t even lift up their handbags,” she said.
Witnessing the chaos around her she added, “We were already exhausted from this long journey, and this type of welcome at the airport was the last thing we expected.”
Syed Fayaz, who came from Nizamabad district along with his family to receive his father said, “Haj terminal is pathetic compared to services provided at international terminal of this same airport.” Examining his shoes and trouser splashed with mud he added, “Don’t know if it’s bias of airport authorities or complete negligence of Haj committee officials.”
Prof S. A. Shukoor, special officer and in charge of Telangana state Haj committee is putting the entire blame of mismanagement at GMR INFRA, the care taker of the international airport. Speaking with TCN, Prof. Shukoor said that after witnessing the difficulties faced by Hajis he has pleaded with GMR to put some more tents and to level the soil near the terminal.
Commenting on the infrastructure at the terminal special officer said, “There should have been permanent and proper roof constructed on the Haj terminal. Or, at least the GMR should have constructed a cement road around the terminal, but they are not maintaining the same from the point of their own standards.”
Aged Hajji along with volunteers trying to pull out his stuck luggage trolley.
Mr. Shukoor also regretted the absence of a luggage belt machine at the terminal which is a basic amenity at any airport, “We have been asking them to provide a luggage belt since a long time. Even before the beginning of the Hajj season we informed them about the absence of luggage belt but they just didn’t respond.”
With the growing disregard of GMR towards providing basic services to Hajis, Telangana state Haj committee has decided to take a final call, which is shifting Haj terminal from Shamshabad international airport to the old Begumpet airport in the heart of the city.
“We have already moved a proposal to shift Haj flights from Shamshabad to Begumpet airport and we hope to finalize it for next year. We are forced to take this decision as GMR has failed to respond to every request of the Haj committee for providing basic facilities to Hajis,” Prof Shukoor added.
Interestingly the International airport which is falling behind from its duty towards the Haj pilgrims is constructed over prime Wakf land in the outskirts of Hyderabad.
Parking lot of Hajj terminal.
During the earlier regime of the TDP Government under Chandrababu Naidu 1,100 acres of Wakf land at Shamshabad was allotted to Airport development authority of India for constructing a new international airport at suburb of the city.
That thousand acre lands pertain to Serial No. 99/1 on Wakf record belonged to Dargah Baba Sharfuddin popularly known as Pahahde Shariff. Land was encroached and allotted for the new airport neither by taking any prior consent of the state Wakf board nor by providing any subsequent compensation for it.
Ironically airport authority doesn’t fail to collect User Development Fee (UDA) amounting to Rs. 1,950 from each and every Haj pilgrim annually, for using its ‘services’.
At the time of filing of this story, several attempts at contacting the PRO of the GMR INFRA failed.