KOCHI: The Haj camp will commence on the Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) Academy campus in Nedumbassery on July 31. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the camp at 7 pm. A meeting in this regard was held in Kochi on Wednesday. Wakf and Haj Minister K T Jaleel will flag off the first flight which will depart from the airport on August 1 at 12.30 am. This time, 29 special services from August 1 to 16 will be conducted. Unlike previous years, facilities for Haj pilgrims will be arranged at the CIAL Academy block.
The registration of pilgrims will be held at the A13 to A15 side of T3 terminal, where their luggage will also be received. From there, the pilgrims will be taken to the camp in separate vehicles. People accompanying the pilgrims will not be permitted to the camp.
Vehicles will not be permitted to park near the camp, which will have a separate prayer hall for the pilgrims. Similarly, new toilets and other basic facilities will be set up. For immigration procedure, four counters will be earmarked for the Haj pilgrims. Depending on the rush, the number of counters will be increased. The CISF and Customs Department will appoint nodal officers for helping the pilgrims.
Telephone and internet connections and foreign exchange facilities will be arranged at the camp. A medical team will be available for health checkups and vaccinations. All the construction work will be completed before July 20. KSRTC will run special services from Kozhikode, Malappuram, Ponnani, Kalpetta, Mananthavady and Kannur. All important trains will stop at Aluva from July 30 to August 16.
