New Delhi, March 20 (BNA): India has approved four new starting points for pilgrims in 2023, two of them in the state of Kerala.
Kannur and Calicut in the Malabar region of the state are the new departure airports for Keralit.
The Emirates News Agency (WAM) stated that the Gulf region hosts millions of expatriates from Kerala, and the new starting points will be a consolation for them when their families and relatives go to perform Hajj from this year onwards.
Two other airports newly approved for pilgrims are Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh and Agartala in Tripura.
“The final number of departure points will be subject to the minimum number of passengers choosing the airport and the possibility of setting up the relevant infrastructure,” India’s Minister for Minority Affairs, Smriti Zobin Irani, told parliament. Pilgrims were given options to travel from 25 starting points for Hajj 2023.
She said that during the interactive sessions with stakeholders, including Hajj committees in the states, demands for more starting points were received. After analyzing all the observations, new airports were added for Hajj departure to reduce the difficulties faced by the pilgrims due to the lack of departure points.
Kerala already has a third airport designated for pilgrimages, that of Cochin.
WWA