Trouble mounts for Indian private Haj tour operators amid central government's delay
New Delhi: The delayed response from the Minority Affairs Department of the Central Government has posed a challenge for private tour operators tasked with facilitating VIP accommodations for pilgrims embarking on the Holy Haj pilgrimage from various states, including Karnataka.
In a customary arrangement during the Hajj pilgrimage the government of Saudi Arabia used to to establish tents near Meena in the city of Makkah,. Typically, tour operators would transfer funds to an International Bank Account Number (IBAN) to cover expenses such as tents and transportation. However, a new regulation implemented by the Saudi Arabian government requires tour operators worldwide to deposit funds into the accounts of their respective country's Hajj-related government missions in Makkah.
Consequently, Indian private tour operators have been instructed to deposit funds into the account of the Indian Hajj Mission, which will manage the finances and provide operators with the necessary account details for conducting transactions. While Hajj ministries in South Asian countries like the UAE, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka have already facilitated similar arrangements for their operators, the Indian Ministry of Minority Affairs has yet to authorize such transactions.
This delay has left many private tour operators in a precarious position, as some operators mistakenly transferred funds to the old IBAN account, resulting in financial setbacks. Failure to provide promised VIP accommodations in Meena could lead to significant challenges and potential embarrassment for reputable tour operators, especially if pilgrims are left dissatisfied.
Shaukat Ali Sultan, President of the Karnataka Haj Organizers Association, expressed concerns over the situation, highlighting the urgency for government intervention. He emphasized the need for Minority Affairs Minister Smriti Irani to engage in negotiations with the Saudi Arabian government to address the issue and ensure smoother operations for future Hajj seasons. Failure to resolve the matter could result in logistical challenges and inconvenience for both tour operators and pilgrims.
"Private tour operators all over the country are facing problems due to this new rule. The Indian Hajj Mission will not do any work without the direction from the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs. Several tour operators have already brought their problems to the attention of the Central Government through email. However, no response has been received from the Central Government." He said.
"All the government offices are closed in Saudi Arabia due to the Ramadan festival. The offices will probably start from Monday. If the Ministry of Minority Affairs does not come to our aid in this matter, the situation may worsen. We were happy because we got the certificates quickly this time. But, now we are stuck in the matter of payment.
"Normally, the process of issuing Hajj visa was started from the 20th of Shawwal. However, this time they started from the 10th of Ramadan. However, we are facing a big problem as our money is not credited to the Indian Hajj Mission account." He added.
"This time we will deposit the money from the IBAN account. We request the Union Minority Affairs Minister Smriti Irani to negotiate with the Saudi Arabian government to adopt the new system from next year. Otherwise, we will get tents in a very remote area in Meena. This will cause a lot of trouble to us and the pilgrims." He further added.
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Regulator DGCA eases flight duty norms for pilots amid IndiGo crisis
Mumbai (PTI): Aviation watchdog DGCA on Friday eased the flight duty norms by allowing substitution of leaves with a weekly rest period amid massive operational disruptions at IndiGo, according to sources.
As per the revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms, "no leave shall be substituted for weekly rest", which means that weekly rest period and leaves are to be treated separately. The clause was part of efforts to address fatigue issues among the pilots.
Citing IndiGo flight disruptions, sources told PTI that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has decided to withdraw the provision 'no leave shall be substituted for weekly rest' from the FDTL norms.
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"In view of the ongoing operational disruptions and representations received from various airlines regarding the need to ensure continuity and stability of operations, it has been considered necessary to review the said provision," DGCA said in a communication dated December 5.
The gaps in planning ahead of the implementation of the revised FDTL, the second phase of which came into force from November 1, have resulted in crew shortage at IndiGo and is one of the key reasons for the current disruptions.
#BREAKING: #DGCA relaxes a clause which debarred airlines to club leaves with weekly rest to mitigate #IndiGo crisis
— Economic Times (@EconomicTimes) December 5, 2025
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