Haj terminal to open Feb. 6

JAKARTA: A special terminal for haj pilgrims in the Soekarno- Hatta International Airport compound will commence operations on Feb. 6, 2004, Minister of Religious Affairs, Said al Munawar said on Tuesday.

The minister guaranteed that the terminal, located on the former grounds of the 1996 Air Show, would be free from extortion.

"The terminal will be safe for our haj pilgrims," he said, while visiting the site.

The government has spent Rp 2 billion (US$235,294) on the project. It will also allocate Rp 10 billion to construct a tunnel connecting the haj terminal with the main airport. The terminal has been equipped with an immigration office and health clinics.

For the time being, haj pilgrims will continue to depart from the airport's Terminal I A. -- Antara