Chennai no longer Haj point, pilgrims have to travel days in advance

Chennai: Haj pilgrims from Tamil Nadu must travel at least five days ahead of their departure, as the Central Haj Committee has reduced the embarking points from 21 to 10 across India and scrapped several centres including Chennai.
Hajis selected to be part of the first batch leaving Cochin on June 13, have been directed to be in Kochi by June 9. At least 1,498 have been selected for the pilgrimage this year.Tamil Nadu minister for minorities welfare and non-resident Tamils welfare Gingee KS Masthan, said he would be in Kochi to oversee the arrangements for pilgrims from Tamil Nadu.
Almost two years after Haj pilgrims are permitted to visit Saudi Arabia. The pilgrims volunteering to travel to Mecca filed their application three months ago. Despite the Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin writing to the Prime Minister and the Central Haj Committee to include Chennai as one of the embarking centres, it has been scrapped. Now, the Haj pilgrims from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Mahe, and Lakshadweep Islands will reach Kochi to leave for Mecca.
“It is difficult for us to come and collect the suitcase provided by the Tamil Nadu Haj Committee in Nungambakkam, as the officials are planning to hand it over only on June 5,” said Mohammad Siddique, one of the pilgrims from Kayalpatinam. Another pilgrim Sultana Begum from Melapalayam said, “We have to return with the baggage and then pack all our belongings for our 37-day stay in Mecca.” Tamil Nadu Haj Committee official said, “Chennai embarking centre was closed due to the pandemic.”