Runway Repairs at Srinagar Airport to Impact Returning Hajj Pilgrims
Baggage restrictions imposed due to maintenance work
Hajj Committee assures excess luggage will reach Valley separately through special arrangement
Srinagar: Thousands of Hajj pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir returning home after completing the annual pilgrimage will have to make adjustments to their travel plans as ongoing runway maintenance work at Srinagar Airport has prompted authorities to impose temporary baggage restrictions on incoming flights.
The Jammu and Kashmir Hajj Committee on Saturday issued a detailed advisory informing pilgrims that only limited baggage will be allowed on flights arriving in Srinagar from Saudi Arabia. The decision has been taken in view of operational constraints caused by the ongoing runway repair and maintenance works at Srinagar Airport.
Chief Executive Officer of the J&K Hajj Committee, Dr. Shujaat Ahmad Qureshi, said every pilgrim returning to the Valley will be permitted to carry only 5 kilograms of check-in baggage and 7 kilograms of hand luggage during the final leg of the journey to Srinagar.
“Due to runway maintenance at Srinagar Airport, baggage handling capacities have been temporarily affected. Pilgrims are therefore requested to carry only 5 kg of check-in luggage and 7 kg of hand luggage. The remaining baggage will be transported separately from Ahmedabad to Srinagar,” Dr. Qureshi said.
The Hajj Committee clarified that the arrangement is temporary and has been devised to ensure the smooth operation of flights during the maintenance period. Authorities said elaborate logistical measures have been put in place to transport the excess baggage safely and deliver it to the pilgrims after its arrival in the Valley.
The advisory comes as the first batches of Hajj pilgrims are preparing to return to Jammu and Kashmir after completing the sacred pilgrimage in the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah. The homecoming of Hajj pilgrims is traditionally marked by emotional reunions, with family members eagerly awaiting the return of their loved ones after weeks of spiritual devotion and prayer.
Returning pilgrims usually carry religious souvenirs, gifts for relatives and friends, dates, prayer items and other belongings acquired during their stay in Saudi Arabia. The temporary baggage restriction is therefore expected to require careful planning on the part of the pilgrims before boarding their return flights.
Officials, however, emphasized that pilgrims need not worry about their remaining belongings, as a dedicated mechanism has been established for the transportation of excess luggage from Ahmedabad to Srinagar. The committee said every effort is being made to ensure that the baggage reaches the Valley safely and is handed over to its rightful owners without undue delay.
The Hajj Committee has urged all pilgrims to cooperate with airport authorities, airline staff and Hajj officials by strictly adhering to the baggage limits and following the instructions issued from time to time. Pilgrims have also been advised to properly label their luggage and keep essential items with them in their permitted baggage to avoid inconvenience during transit.
Officials said the temporary restrictions are part of a broader effort to facilitate uninterrupted flight operations while critical infrastructure work is underway at Srinagar Airport. They maintained that passenger safety and operational efficiency remain the top priorities during the maintenance period.
The committee further appealed to family members receiving pilgrims at the airport to remain patient and cooperate with authorities in case there is a delay in the arrival of separately transported baggage.
Despite the logistical adjustments, the spirit of celebration surrounding the return of the Hajj pilgrims remains undiminished.
Across Kashmir, families are preparing to welcome home relatives and loved ones who have fulfilled one of the most cherished religious obligations of their lives.
The annual Hajj pilgrimage sees thousands of devotees from Jammu and Kashmir travelling to Saudi Arabia every year, with Srinagar serving as the principal embarkation and arrival point for pilgrims from the Union Territory.
Authorities expressed confidence that with the cooperation of pilgrims and their families, the return process would proceed smoothly despite the temporary baggage restrictions necessitated by the airport maintenance works.
