JEDDAH, 26 November — A multipurpose Haj house has started taking shape in Bangalore, capital of the southern Indian state of Karnataka. Chief Minister S.M. Krishna laid the foundation for a four-storied building at Khuddus Saheb Idgah, Millers Road, Shivaji Park, in Bangalore recently.
“The building will have a basement and will be completed in two phases in two years,” Dr. Muhammad Imran, a member of the Karnataka State Haj Committee, told Arab News. The building will accommodate 15,000 pilgrims coming to Bangalore from all over the state for their journey to Makkah. The basement will have an auditorium with arrangements for audiovisual shows. The building will have a mosque and a training center for Haj pilgrims.
It will also make available facilities for pilgrims like immigration, customs and flight boarding passes.
The project costs $2.5 million, with a contribution of $500,000 from the state government and $200,000 from the Central Haj Committee (CHC). CHC Chairman Tanveer Ahmed announced the CHC’s contribution at the foundation laying ceremony.
“Our need for $2 million more will be covered through contributions from individuals and institutions,” said Imran who is here to perform Umrah. The Haj house will provide hostel accommodation to students during off-season.
