Saudi Arabia has given a big gift to the pilgrims going for Haj from India. Now these Indian pilgrims will travel from Jeddah Airport to Mecca by Saudi Arabia's high speed train. The first batch of these pilgrims was sent to Mecca via high speed train on 26 May.
Now Indians arriving in Jeddah for Haj will get the opportunity to travel to Mecca via Haramain high-speed train. This will make their pilgrimage more convenient. Indian pilgrims traditionally still use Saudi Arabian buses to travel from Jeddah to Mecca.However, this year the Consulate General of India in Jeddah in collaboration with Saudi authorities has made special arrangements for transportation of approximately 32,000 Indian Hajis using high speed rail service.
Travel time from Jeddah to Mecca will reduce
This new initiative will help in comfortable travel for pilgrims going for Haj.This will significantly reduce the travel time between Jeddah and Mecca. The Harman high-speed train is capable of reaching speeds of up to 300 km/h, cutting travel time in half compared to bus service. This decision of Saudi Arabia is being considered as a significant improvement in the logistics system for the pilgrimage, which will enhance the overall experience of the Hajis.
Indian Ambassador inaugurated
This new service was inaugurated on 26 May in the presence of key officials from India and Saudi Arabia. During this, Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Dr. Suhail Ajaz Khan and Consul General Mohammad Shahid Alam led the first group of Indian pilgrims in a train from Jeddah Airport to Mecca. Ambassador Dr. Suhail Ajaz Khan said,“This is not only a first for Indian pilgrims but also a first for the Saudi authorities to transport Hajis directly from Jeddah airport to Mecca by train.”
Saudi is improving Haj pilgrimage
The Indian Ambassador and Consul General were accompanied by Al Harbi, Vice Chairman of Saudi Arabian Railways, and other officials of the Ministry of Haj and Ministry of Transport. At the same time, the group of pilgrims had reached Jeddah from Mumbai by Saudi Air flight.The introduction of high-speed train service is being seen as an important step towards improving the arrangements for Haj pilgrimage. It also reflects collaborative efforts between Indian and Saudi authorities.
How many Indians will perform Hajj this year?
The Indian Consulate in Jeddah is working closely with the Saudi authorities to ensure the smooth implementation of this new facility. This year, a total of 175,000 pilgrims will undertake Haj from India, of which 140,000 will be facilitated by the Haj Committee of India. The remaining pilgrims will travel through private tour operators.