Gaya: Devoid of single-window service delivery, nearly 4,700 Haj pilgrims from Bihar are forced to shuttle between Patna and Gaya to complete pre-embarkation formalities, including collection of passports, metal identification badges, air tickets and foreign exchange.

Though there are 21 Haj embarkation points in the country, Bihar is the only state where travel documents, foreign currency and identification badges are given at two different places 120km apart, said Sarfaraz Khan, a pilgrim.

Gaya is the embarkation point for all Haj pilgrims in the state. The last batch of Haj pilgrims from Bihar will take off from Gaya on July 28.

While pilgrims have to collect passport and identification badge from Patna Haj Bhavan, air tickets and foreign exchange are given at Gaya airport. Each pilgrim gets backs 2,100 Saudi Riyal (approx Rs 38,000) out of the nearly Rs 2.9 lakh deposited by the person with the Haj Committee for the pilgrimage. The forex is supposed to take care of personal expenses, including buying meals for the six-week pilgrimage period, pocket expenditure and shopping.

The shuttling between Patna and Gaya is a bother for the pilgrims, a sizeable number of whom are women and elderly people. It also means wastage of one extra day as the pilgrims have to collect these items in Patna one day ahead of the departure day.

"Even Gaya-based pilgrims have to first go to Patna to collect their travel document, documents identification, wrist band-engraved with personal details and come back to Gaya to get remaining items and catch the special Haj flight taking off from Gaya International airport," said Khan.

All that the state Haj committee needs to do is depute a few personnel at Gaya airport to hand over the full travel kit to the pilgrims, said Md Moosa, a Haj volunteer.

Alleging political motive in the arrangement in which the documents are given at two different points, Moosa declared that it was done only for a photo opportunity for Patna-based politicians.

"Throughout the fortnight-long departure period, Patna-based politicians each evening get themselves photographed at the Haj Bhavan and participate in special prayers," alleged the volunteer.

The first batch of pilgrims was photographed with none other than chief minister Nitish Kumar on July 13 evening.

State Haj Committee chairman Md Iliyas denied any political motive in the existing arrangement. "The State Haj Committee does not have the power to change the system. It is for the Haj Committee of India to take a call on the single-window service delivery to the pilgrims," said Md Iliyas.

Demand for transparency in the Haj body accounts have also been made. On how much money the state body receives, the State Haj Committee chairman said the query should be addressed to the Central Haj Committee.