JEDDAH: Traditionally, all pilgrims arriving at Jeddah International Airport take Saudi authorities-provided buses to Makkah. This year, however, the Consulate General of India in Jeddah has made special arrangements with Saudi authorities to allow some Indian pilgrims to travel from Jeddah airport to Makkah via the Haramain High Speed Railway.
About 32,000 Indian pilgrims will benefit from this exclusive service, which will cut travel time in half thanks to the train’s top speed of 300 kph.
To mark the historic occasion, India’s ambassador, Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan, and Consul General Mohd Shahid Alam, accompanied Indian pilgrims on their inaugural journey from Jeddah airport to Makkah on Sunday.
The pilgrims arrived in the Kingdom via a Saudi flight from Mumbai.
They were joined by Khaled Al-Harbi, senior vice president of operations at Saudi Arabia Railways, and officials from the Hajj and Umrah and Transport Ministries.
This is the first time Saudi Arabia has transported a limited number of Hajj pilgrims by train from Jeddah airport to Makkah.
This year, 175,000 pilgrims from India will participate, with 140,000 organised by the Hajj Committee of India.
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