Lok Sabha Question No. 1647 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-30
Subject: Substandard Accommodation facilities to Indian Hajj Pilgrims
Ministry: MINORITY AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Kodikunnil Suresh

## 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 eHaj  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. 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

*****

- (f) Hajj-2025 are given in 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 No . | Name of Tender                                                                       | No. of bid receive d                                                                                                                                              | No. of Technic ally qualified bidder                                                                                                                              | Award of the contract                                                                                                                                             | Mode of contract                                                                                                                                                  |
|-----------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|         1 | Selection of Service Provider Company for Mashair and Makkah-Madinah Ground Services | 15                                                                                                                                                                | 07                                                                                                                                                                | Ithra Al Khair                                                                                                                                                    | Through e-Haj Portal                                                                                                                                              |
|         2 | Hiring of pilgrims' accommodation in Makkah                                          | The accommodation units were inspected and Selected by BIS Team. The contract with 395 approved pilgrims' accommodation in Makkah were done through e-Haj Portal. | The accommodation units were inspected and Selected by BIS Team. The contract with 395 approved pilgrims' accommodation in Makkah were done through e-Haj Portal. | The accommodation units were inspected and Selected by BIS Team. The contract with 395 approved pilgrims' accommodation in Makkah were done through e-Haj Portal. | The accommodation units were inspected and Selected by BIS Team. The contract with 395 approved pilgrims' accommodation in Makkah were done through e-Haj Portal. |
|         3 | Hiring of pilgrims' accommodation in Madinah                                         | 16                                                                                                                                                                | 06                                                                                                                                                                | (i)Al Hossam Towers Company (ii)Al Sadun Company (iii)Al Andalus Company (iv)Manazil Al-Mukhtara (v)Ahmad Mohammed Zuhdi Company (vi)Abu Al Joud Hotels           | Through e-Haj Portal                                                                                                                                              |
|         4 | Intercity Transport Services                                                         | 08                                                                                                                                                                | 03                                                                                                                                                                | (i)Durat Al Munawwarah Co. (ii)Abu Sarhad Transport Co.                                                                                                           | Through e-Haj Portal                                                                                                                                              |
|         5 | Aziziyah-Haram Sharif Shuttle Bus Transport                                          | 05                                                                                                                                                                | 02                                                                                                                                                                | (i)Hafil Co. (ii)Al Qaid Co.                                                                                                                                      | Normal Contract                                                                                                                                                   |
|         6 | Refilling of Cooking Gas for pilgrims' buildings                                     | 03                                                                                                                                                                | 03                                                                                                                                                                | M/S Ahmed Gas Co.                                                                                                                                                 | Normal Contract                                                                                                                                                   |
|         7 | Transportation of Pilgrims' Baggage between Madinah to Makkah                        | 03                                                                                                                                                                | 03                                                                                                                                                                | M/S Al Jabaline Al Raedeh                                                                                                                                         | Normal Contract                                                                                                                                                   |
|         8 | Transportation of Pilgrims' Baggage between Makkah to Madinah                        | 04                                                                                                                                                                | 02                                                                                                                                                                | M/S Al Habib Company                                                                                                                                              | Normal Contract                                                                                                                                                   |
|         9 | Selection of Medical Supervision Services                                            | 03                                                                                                                                                                | 02                                                                                                                                                                | M/S Al Abeer Medical Group                                                                                                                                        | Normal Contract                                                                                                                                                   |
|        10 | Providing Catering Services for admitted Haji at Hospitals                           | 02                                                                                                                                                                | 01                                                                                                                                                                | M/S Panoor Restaurant                                                                                                                                             | Normal Contract                                                                                                                                                   |
|        11 | Procurement of Data SIMs with CUG (Closed User Group) for State Haj Inspectors       | 01                                                                                                                                                                | 01                                                                                                                                                                | M/S Mobily                                                                                                                                                        | Normal Contract                                                                                                                                                   |
|        12 | Short Leasing of 14 Pick-up Vans                                                     | 01                                                                                                                                                                | 01                                                                                                                                                                | M/S Za'er Modern Tourism& Transportation Company                                                                                                                  | Normal Contract                                                                                                                                                   |
|        13 | Short Leasing of 4 Mini Buses                                                        | 01                                                                                                                                                                | 01                                                                                                                                                                | M/s Za'er Modern Tourism& Transportation Company                                                                                                                  | Normal Contract                                                                                                                                                   |
|        14 | Hiring of Medical Escort for transfer of pilgrim patients                            | 01                                                                                                                                                                | 01                                                                                                                                                                | M/S Universal Arabia Medical Services                                                                                                                             | Normal Contract                                                                                                                                                   |