Demand for a mosque in Shamshabad airport!Telangana Minorities Commission sent a notice to GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd over construction of a mosque on a land parcel within the airport premises. Taking up a petition by an individual, the commission opined that scores of Muslims workers, including taxi drivers and porters are forced to pray out in the open in ‘harsh’ weather conditions.

The commission asked GMR whether any gazetted waqf property has been taken over or acquired for the airport. It also asked if the authorities have provided employees a place to pray outside the terminal.

The commission is seeking a land parcel of about 2,000 square yards near the airport entrance which was earmarked for the construction of a mosque. However as the airport is classified as “hyper sensitive” area, there can not be any permanent religious installations within the airport premises.