A proposal for the construction of a separate Haj facility in Dwarka is yet to materialise due to infighting in the Delhi State Haj Committee. The committee had made the proposal last year with the view of easing the rush of relatives of pilgrims at the Indira Gandhi International Airport.

The Haj House is proposed to be built in Dwarka, due to its proximity to the Delhi airport, by the Public Works Department of the Delhi government. Some in the committee, however, have been demanding that the facility be constructed near Rouse Avenue, closer to Old Delhi.

“We are still operating from Haj Manzil at Turkman Gate,” Sarvan Bhagria, executive officer of the Delhi State Haj Committee, said.

“There is always a huge rush of relatives with pilgrims, and it leads to long traffic jams on the international airport’s approach road. The proposed Haj House will definitely ease traffic and rush during the two months of pilgrimage,” a senior airport official said.

To be built at a cost of Rs 1 crore approximately, the building is to come up in an area of 5,000 sq m. Baggage will be checked in from here itself and all relatives will be allowed to be with the pilgrims only till this point. Pilgrims will then be ferried to the airport in sanitised coaches.