Udaipur, March 22, 2025:  Saudi authorities, as per media reports, had cancelled two zones in the tent city of Mina, citing non-payment of dues. These zones, viz. Zone 1 and 2 were allotted to Private Tour Operators (PTOs) from India.

As per reports, now the payment processing for Zones 3, 4 and 5 has also been stopped. PTOs, also known as Combined Hajj Group Organisers (CHGOs), numbering 26 in total from India, were allotted these zones and nearly 52000 pilgrims were booked in these zones. With this cancellation and partial stoppage in payment, the pilgrims who have been affected will be in a dilemma with respect to their Hajj plans.

Sources say that the reason for this cancellation is the non-payment by the CHGOs to the Saudi authorities. The CHGOs meanwhile, say that the delay in payment has happened because the IBAN (International Bank Account Number) linked to Nusuk was inactive, and they had made their payments through the Haj Committee of India. The HCoI would then have sent to this money to the Indian Consulate in Saudi, who in turn will have this amount credited to the wallet of this CHGOs.

Why Zones Were Cancelled

As per the directives given by Saudi authorities, the last day to finalise all the arrangements for service, was February 14 ,2025 following which the Nusuk portal was closed. The Ministry of Minority Affairs, in their notice dated March 10, informed that the last date of finalising all contracts related to housing in Makkah and Madinah as well as transportation contracts in the e-Hajj / Nusuk portal was March 25. Accordingly,  CGHOs were asked to make all payment by the end of day on March 12, 2025. The matter of non-payment had been taken up through diplomatic channels by the CGI Jeddah and Saudi authorities were willing to open the payment window for a short duration should the CGHOs have money in their wallets.

After discussion, it was informed vide a circular on March 13, that if the CGHOs do not make the payment by the end of day on March 14, the authorities might go ahead and close all the other zones. CGHOs were, accordingly, directed to make the payment to the Hajj Committee. The Ministry said that it will take up the case of the CGHOs who deposit money by this time, with the Saudi authorities. However, the Saudi authorities have closed all payment and processing options on Nusuk and CGHOs that did not adhere to the payment deadlines.

The CHGOs, meanwhile, allege that lack of coordination between the Consul General in Jeddah, the Min of Minority Affairs and the Haj and Umrah ministry in Saudi has led to this delay.

Zones in the tent city of Mina, which is a destination for 4 days for pilgrims performing Haj, is divided into 5 zones. With no processing option on the Nusuk platform for these 5 zones, the private tour operators in India, who were allotted these zones, are apprehensive on whether the tour for these pilgrims will take place. Out of the 1,75,000 pilgrims quota allotted to India, 52,500 will go through private tour operators.