Hajj 2024: Indian Hajis ride on high-speed train to Makkah
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Jeddah: For the first time Indian Hajis are going to take High Speed Train from Jeddah Airport to Makkah
Traditionally all Hajis who arrive at Jeddah Airport proceed to Makkah by busses provided by the Saudi authorities. This year, however, special arrangements have been made for some of the Indian Hajis, by the Consulate General of India Jeddah in association with concerned Saudi authorities, to ride the High-Speed Harmain Train from Jeddah Airport to Makkah.
About 32000 Hajis will be able to use this exclusive service. This will make their journey very comfortable and reduce the travel time from Jeddah to Makkah by half. The highest speed of the Train is about 300 KM/ hour.
To mark this historical moment, the Ambassador of India, Dr Suhel Ajaz Khan, and Consul General Mohd Shahid Alam escorted the Indian Hajis from Jeddah Airport to Makkah on the first such journey on the High-Speed Train on May 26. They were accompanied by the Vice President of Saudi Arabian Railways, Eng Al Harbi and other officials from the Ministry of Haj and Transport. The Hajis had arrived on Board Saudia Air Flight from Mumbai.
This year 175000 Hajis from India will perform Haj. Out of these, 140000 are coming through the Haj Committee of India.
"This is not only a first for Indian pilgrims but also an inaugural experience for Saudi authorities in transporting Hajis by train directly from Jeddah Airport to Makkah," said Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan, Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia.
For the Saudi side also, this is the first such experience of transporting Hajis through the Train to Makkah directly from the Jeddah Airport.
Every year, Indian authorities have been making efforts to make the Haj pilgrimage more comfortable and hassle-free.