Govt announces airfare reduction for Haj pilgrims

The Narendra Modi-led government has significantly reduced airfares for Hai pilgrimage, in certain cases up to 50 per cent as compared to the rates during the UPA regime.

The Centre had come under fire after the Ministry of Minority Affairs had done away with subsidy for Haj pilgrims this year under a Supreme Court order of 2012.

Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi personally monitored the Haj process while ministry officials were in constant touch with officials from airlines and had been in discussion on airfare for Jeddah during normal days and during Haj.

"The Modi Government's commitment to 'Development with Dignity' and transparency has ensured that air fares for Haj 2018 have been reduced significantly, even after removing Haj subsidy, in comparison to airfares during the Congress-led UPA regime. It has also ended the loot and political exploitation in the name of Haj subsidy continued for decades," Naqvi said.

Haj fare from Mumbai was Rs 98,750 in 2014 as announced by the Congress-led UPA Government in December 2013, and it has been reduced to Rs 57,857 for 2018.

Fare for Ahmedabad has been reduced to Rs 65,015 from Rs 98,750 in 2013-14; for Delhi it has been reduced to Rs 71,853 from Rs 98,750 in 2013. Other major embarkment points also saw a significant price reduction.