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AP seeks direct flights to Jedda from Gannavaram Airport
The Andhra Pradesh government is asking the Union government to begin international flight operations from Gannavaram Airport from June or July by sending Haj pilgrims from Vijayawada to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, directly. Till now, Haj pilgrims of Andhra Pradesh are depending on the Shamshabad International Airport in Hyderabad for travelling to Saudi Arabia for the Haj pilgrimage. About 3,000 pilgr
Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh government is asking the Union government to begin international flight operations from Gannavaram Airport from June or July by sending Haj pilgrims from Vijayawada to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, directly. Till now, Haj pilgrims of Andhra Pradesh are depending on the Shamshabad International Airport in Hyderabad for travelling to Saudi Arabia for the Haj pilgrimage. About 3,000 pilgrims every year travel to Saudi Arabia from the state for Haj programme.
Highlights:
- Chief Minister writes to Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs Mukthar Abbas Naqvi asking for facilities for direct flights to Saudi Arabia for Haj pilgrims from Gannavaram
- About 3,000 pilgrims from go on Haj pilgrimage every year from state
- Naqvi reportedly said he will talk to authorities concerned to set up immigration office at the airport for verification of documents
With the international airport status being accorded to Gannavaram Airport by the Centre recently, now the pilgrims of Andhra Pradesh can board the flight at Gannavaram Airport and travel to Saudi Arabia. It will save time and money for the pilgrims.
Keeping in view the scope to operate international flights from Gannavaram Airport, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu wrote to Union minister of state for minority affairs Mukthar Abbas Naqvi narrating the need for operating services from Gannavaram Airport to Jeddah.
MLC M A Shareef, representatives of Muslim organisations and government officials met Union minister Mukthar Abbas Naqvi and Union minister for urban development M Venkaiah Naidu in New Delhi on Friday and explained that 3,000 pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh would go for Haj pilgrimage this year. Naqvi reportedly said immigration office should be opened at Gannavaram Airport for verification of documents and he would talk to the authorities concerned in this regard.
He said the Saudi Arabia government had made arrangements with many international agencies and airlines to operate services on annual Haj pilgrimage. He reportedly said the existing Gannavaram Airport runway is inadequate for landing of bigger aircraft so there is a less possibility of operating services immediately.
In this backdrop, the Haj pilgrims are asking the Authorities to arrange Immigration office in Vijayawada to clear the documents of the Haj pilgrims and the luggage can be shifted from Gannavaram Airport by Air India flights to Hyderabad. The pilgrims can directly go to Hyderabad Airport after loading the luggage and completing the checking by authorities concerned at Gannavaram Airport.
Muneer Ahmed, president of Muslim Development Society, Vijayawada, one of those who met the Union Ministers in New Delhi, said immigration office plays a vital role in clearing the documents of the pilgrims.He said expansion of Gannavaram Airport is also very important to operate bigger aircraft operated by international airlines.
