Centre, not state, behind Rs 10,000 Haj airfare hike: Telangana Haj Committee

Hyderabad: The additional Rs 10,000 being collected from Haj pilgrims as “differential airfare” has been decided by the Centre and the Haj Committee of India due to rising aviation fuel costs, the Telangana Haj Committee has said. Addressing a press conference at Haj House on Saturday, Committee chairman Syed Shah Ghulam Afzal Biyabani Khusru Pasha said the state body had no role in the decision and clarified that pilgrims from some other states had travelled without paying the extra charge. The committee has urged a reconsideration of the levy.

The Telangana government has meanwhile begun preparations for Haj 2026, with Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy directing officials to ensure comprehensive arrangements for pilgrims departing from Hyderabad. All departments have been asked to coordinate closely and avoid any shortcomings in facilities at the Haj camp and during travel. Biyabani said that efforts were underway to ensure smooth travel and accommodation, and noted that the CM had reviewed the arrangements and stressed that pilgrims should not face inconvenience.

Departures from Hyderabad are scheduled to begin on May 4 and continue until May 21, with around 430 pilgrims expected on each flight from Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. In all, about 9,900 pilgrims will board flights from Hyderabad, including nearly 6,600 from Telangana and the rest from other states. Pilgrims will be transported from Haj House to the airport in air conditioned buses, and each traveller will be allowed two check in bags weighing up to 40 kg in total, along with a 7 kg cabin bag.

Haj House has advised all pilgrims to report at least 24 hours before departure to collect their kits, which include identification stickers and smartwatches. The Haj Committee of India will provide the smartwatches to help pilgrims with navigation and communication during the journey. Haj inspectors will also be deployed to assist travellers, with special attention to senior citizens, who form more than half of the group.

Under new Saudi guidelines, pilgrims will not be allowed to cook in their accommodation and must rely on food from approved catering services or outside vendors. Separate accommodation will be arranged for men and women. Pilgrims have also been advised to follow safety guidelines strictly, especially given the high temperatures in the region, and to avoid going out between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. The committee will organise orientation sessions with religious scholars to guide pilgrims on rituals such as wearing the ihram before departure.