Ahamed, who met Haj Minister Bandar Al-Hajjar here yesterday, said that he has requested the Haj minister to grant an additional quota of 10,000. The Indian minister also made a formal request for Metro train facility to all Indian pilgrims coming through the Haj Committee of India.

“The minister’s response was positive but I would not speculate unless it’s granted,” Ahamed said. The additional quota is usually released close to Haj.

“We discussed various Haj-related issues with the Haj minister and requested that Indian pilgrims should be provided accommodation near metro stations in Mina and also suggested that more food stalls should be opened in the tent city so that pilgrims do not have to wander for food.”

Ahamed also said that modalities were being worked out to send Zamzam water in ferry flights when they return empty after offloading passengers in Jeddah. “This, if agreed upon, would ease the baggage issue faced by many pilgrims,” the minister said.

Ahamed was leading a high-level Indian delegation for discussions on bilateral agreement for Haj 2012. The delegation included Chairperson of the Haj Committee of India Mohsina Kidwai, Ambassador Hamid Ali Rao, Joint Secretary (Gulf and Haj) of Ministry of External Affairs A.R. Ghanashyam, Consul General of India Faiz Ahmad Kidwai, Consul Haj B.S. Mubarak and other officials.

Ahamed also met with the Chairman of South Asian Pilgrims Establishment yesterday and discussed Haj arrangements to make the pilgrimage smooth and comfortable for Indian pilgrims.

Speaking at the press conference, the consul general said that the Consulate General of India was further streamlining the building selection procedure to make it more transparent and flawless. “Bids have been invited and the names of the buildings will be pasted on the notice board of our Makkah office after selection,” Faiz Kidwai said.

The Haj Committee has increased the rate for accommodation in Green Category buildings by SR500, however, rent for Aziziyah buildings will remain the same.

Faiz added that separate bids have been invited from suppliers for providing good quality blankets and pillows to pilgrims.