New Delhi, Oct 19 (PTI) Pilgrims going for the month- long Haj this year will have to shell out Rs.4,000 more for air fare from the existing Rs.12,000.

Altogether 1,60,491,people will undertake the Haj this year. Of this, 1.15 lakh pilgrims will go under the aegis of the Haj Committee and get the benefit of government subsidy while the remaining will be through private tour operators.

Under the government scheme, each pilgrim will have to pay Rs 16,000 for air fare and rest of the ticket cost will be borne by the government. Last year, each Haji who went through the Haj Committee had to pay Rs 12,000.

Pilgrims will have two more embarkation points, up from 17, with Ranchi and Mangalore being added this time to facilitate their travel from Jharkhand and Karnataka.