S Arabia has responded positively on revival of sea routes for

Saudi Arabia's ambassador to India, Saud Mohammed Alsati has responded positively to the central government's plan of reviving sea routes to transport Indian Haj pilgrims to the Arabian nation, Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said today.
The Minister of State for Minority Affairs made the announcement after Alsati called on him at the Antyodaya Bhawan here.
He also reiterated that the government will come out with its new 'Haj policy 2018' later this month, which is aimed at smoothening the process involving the pilgrimage.
"We are trying to revive the option of sending pilgrims via sea route from next year. We will need the Saudi Arabian government's assurance in this regard and they have responded positively," he told reporters after the nearly 45-minute meeting between the two leaders.

The BJP leader said he will visit the Arabian nation to discuss the matter with the government of that country.
He informed the media that Union Road Transport, Shipping and Ports Minister Nitin Gadkari has called a meeting to discuss the revival of sea routes for Haj pilgrimage later this month.
Naqvi also thanked the Saudi Arabian government for facilitating this year's pilgrimage and increasing India's quota by 35,000 pilgrims.