Executive Summary:
This document is the answer to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1647 regarding substandard accommodation facilities for Indian Hajj pilgrims during Hajj 2025. It details the grievances received and addressed, the accommodation selection process, and contracts awarded for various services. It includes an annexure listing the vendors and contracts related to Hajj 2025.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Grievances and Resolution:**
* The Indian Haj Pilgrims Office (IHPO) received accommodation-related complaints, addressed promptly through the Hajj Suvidha App.
* Complaints mainly involved issues with lifts, electricity, sanitation, air conditioning, and water.
* Pilgrim satisfaction regarding accommodation quality increased by 12.42% compared to Hajj 2024.
* **Accommodation Standards and Selection:**
* Accommodations for Hajj Committee of India (HCoI) pilgrims are hired to a uniform standard, with no categorization.
* A Building Inspection-cum-Selection Team (BIST), including members from State Haj Committees and headed by the Chairman, HCoI, inspected and selected accommodations in Makkah.
* A Building Readiness Team also inspected accommodations before allotment.
* Saudi authorities license buildings deemed eligible for accommodating Hajj pilgrims.
* The Indian Mission ensures selected accommodations have valid licenses and permissions.
* **Roles and Responsibilities:**
* The Hajj Committee of India (HCoI) and State Haj Committees, through the BIST, inspected and selected accommodations.
* The Indian Mission issues tenders for hiring services, including accommodation, and verifies necessary licenses.
* The Ministry of Minority Affairs strives for incremental improvements to enhance the pilgrimage experience.
* **Contracts and Bids (Annexure I):**
* Lists various tenders, the number of bids received, the number of technically qualified bidders, the awarded company, and the mode of contract for services related to Hajj 2025.
* Services include:
* Mashair and Makkah-Madinah ground services.
* Pilgrim accommodation in Makkah and Madinah (through eHaj Portal).
* Intercity transport services.
* Aziziyah-Haram Sharif shuttle transport.
* Refilling of cooking gas.
* Transportation of pilgrim baggage.
* Medical supervision services.
* Catering services at hospitals.
* Procurement of data SIMs.
* Leasing of vehicles.
*Impact Analysis:*
Hajj Pilgrims:
Impact: Pilgrims experienced accommodation-related issues during Hajj 2025, which were addressed. The goal is to provide dignified, hygienic, and safe accommodation. Satisfaction with accommodation quality has increased.
Action Required: Pilgrims can continue to provide feedback through the Hajj Suvidha App to help identify and resolve issues promptly.
Hajj Committee of India (HCoI) and State Haj Committees:
Impact: Responsible for inspecting and selecting accommodations for pilgrims, ensuring they meet required standards.
Action Required: Continue to participate in the BIST to ensure accommodations are suitable.
Indian Mission in Saudi Arabia:
Impact: Responsible for issuing tenders, verifying licenses, and ensuring accommodations meet necessary permissions.
Action Required: Maintain oversight of accommodation contracts and ensure compliance with regulations.
Service Providers/Vendors:
Impact: Awarded contracts to provide various services, including accommodation, transportation, and catering.
Action Required: Fulfill contractual obligations and adhere to quality standards.
Key Entities Referenced
SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH: Member of Lok Sabha who raised the unstarred question about substandard accommodation facilities to Indian Hajj pilgrims.
MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS: The Indian government ministry responsible for matters relating to minority communities, including Hajj pilgrimage arrangements.
Hajj Committee of India: An organization involved in the selection of accommodation and verification of facilities for Indian Hajj pilgrims.
Saudi Arabia: Country where the Hajj pilgrimage takes place and where the Indian Mission is involved in verifying facilities and signing contracts.
SHRI KIREN RIJIJU: The Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS who provided the answer to the Lok Sabha question.
Indian Haj Pilgrims Office IHPO: Office located in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, responsible for addressing grievances of Indian Haj pilgrims.
Hajj Suvidha App: App used by pilgrims to register complaints which were addressed at the Indian Haj Pilgrims Office in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Makkah: City in Saudi Arabia, a key location for Hajj pilgrimage where accommodation is selected for Indian pilgrims.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1647
TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.07.2025
SUBSTANDARD ACCOMMODATION FACILITIES TO INDIAN HAJJ PILGRIMS
1647. SHRI KODIKUNNIL SURESH:
Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has received complaints from Indian pilgrims regarding the poor quality
of accommodation provided during Hajj 2025 including instances of rooms without attached toilets or
basic facilities and if so, the details thereof;
(b) the details of the number of pilgrims allotted to very low-category accommodation and the criteria
used for such allocation;
(c) whether inspections or quality audits were conducted before finalising accommodation agreements
with service providers;
(d) the role of the Hajj Committee of India and the Indian Mission in Saudi Arabia in verifying the
facilities;
(e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to ensure that Indian pilgrims are provided
dignified, hygienic and safe accommodation in future Hajj arrangements for each class of pilgrims;
and
(f) the details of all bids & contracts received, accepted and signed between various vendors and the
Indian Mission in Saudi Arabia in connection with the Hajj 2025?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)
(a) Number of grievances regarding accommodation-related issues was received at the Indian Haj
Pilgrims’ Office (IHPO) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), including on the Hajj Suvidha App
during Haj–2025. The said grievances were mainly related to malfunctioning of lifts, electricity
supply, sanitation, air conditioning, and water availability. All complaints were addressed promptly
and resolved within a defined timeframe, ensuring minimal inconvenience to the Indian Haj Pilgrims.
It is pertinent to mention that pilgrim satisfaction on quality of accommodation at KSA have shown
marked increase of 12.42% over Haj 2024 based on feedback received from pilgrims.
(b) There is no categorisation of accommodations selected for hosting of HCoI pilgrims in KSA
and are hired to an uniform standard.
(c) In Makkah, the inspection and selection of accommodation for Indian Haj pilgrims were
undertaken by a Building Inspection-cum-Selection Team (BIST) consisting of members from State
Haj Committees and headed by Chairman, HCoI prior to the finalization of contracts through the e-
Haj Portal. Further, a Building Readiness Team comprising officials deputed from India also
inspected the accommodation before allotment to the Indian Haj pilgrims during Haj-2025.(d) The Chairman/Members including officials of the Haj Committee of India (HCoI) and State
Haj Committees through Building Inspection-cum-Selection Team (BIST) have inspected and
selected the accommodation for Indian Haj pilgrims. The relevant Saudi authorities issue licenses for
buildings deemed eligible and considered competent to accommodate Haj pilgrims. The Indian
Mission issues tender for hiring services including accommodation andensures that all selected
accommodations possess valid licenses and the necessary permissions for hosting Indian Haj
pilgrims.
(e) The Ministry of Minority Affairs strives to introduce incremental improvement for the
services including accommodation of the Indian Haj Pilgrims every year, to enhance pilgrimage
experience at Makkah, Madina & Mashaer region.
(f) The details of bids & contracts received, accepted, and signed between various vendors and
the Indian Haj Mission, KSA in Saudi Arabia in connection with the arrangements for pilgrims for
Hajj-2025 are given in Annexure-I
*****Annexure-I
ANNEXURE REFERRED IN REPLY TO PART (f) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION
NO. 1647 FOR 30.07.2025 REGARDING “SUBSTANDARD ACCOMMODATION FACILITIES
TO INDIAN HAJJ PILGRIMS”.
Sl Name of Tender No. of No. of Award of the contract Mode of
No bid Technic contract
. receive ally
d qualified
bidder
1. Selection of Service Provider 15 07 Ithra Al Khair Through
Company for Mashair and e-Haj
Makkah–Madinah Ground Portal
Services
2. Hiring of pilgrims’ The accommodation units were inspected and Selected by BIS
accommodation in Makkah Team. The contract with 395 approved pilgrims’ accommodation
in Makkah were done through e-Haj Portal.
3. Hiring of pilgrims’ 16 06 (i)Al Hossam Towers Through
accommodation in Madinah Company e-Haj
(ii)Al Sadun Company Portal
(iii)Al Andalus Company
(iv)Manazil Al-Mukhtara
(v)Ahmad Mohammed Zuhdi
Company
(vi)Abu Al Joud Hotels
4. Intercity Transport Services 08 03 (i)Durat Al Munawwarah Co. Through
(ii)Abu Sarhad Transport Co. e-Haj
Portal
5. Aziziyah–Haram Sharif Shuttle 05 02 (i)Hafil Co. Normal
Bus Transport (ii)Al Qaid Co. Contract
6. Refilling of Cooking Gas for 03 03 M/S Ahmed Gas Co. Normal
pilgrims’ buildings Contract
7. Transportation of Pilgrims’ 03 03 M/S Al Jabaline Al Raedeh Normal
Baggage between Madinah to Contract
Makkah
8. Transportation of Pilgrims’ 04 02 M/S Al Habib Company Normal
Baggage between Makkah to Contract
Madinah
9. Selection of Medical 03 02 M/S Al Abeer Medical Group Normal
Supervision Services Contract
10. Providing Catering Services for 02 01 M/S Panoor Restaurant Normal
admitted Haji at Hospitals Contract
11. Procurement of Data SIMs with 01 01 M/S Mobily Normal
CUG (Closed User Group) for Contract
State Haj Inspectors
12. Short Leasing of 14 Pick-up 01 01 M/S Za'er Modern Tourism & Normal
Vans Transportation Company Contract
13. Short Leasing of 4 Mini Buses 01 01 M/s Za'er Modern Tourism & Normal
Transportation Company Contract
14. Hiring of Medical Escort for 01 01 M/S Universal Arabia Medical Normal
transfer of pilgrim patients Services Contract