Out of 1,002 applications this year, the eligible operators included 288 existing, 117 new applicants who have been applying for three years or more until 2008, and 179 new applicants who have been applying for two years or more until 2008.

These 'new' applicants have now been given a quota of 50 Haj pilgrims each this year.

'The above quota of 14,800, allotted to the new PTOs, will be made available by effecting a cut on pro-rata basis from the quota of the 288 existing PTOs subject to the mandatory condition that no PTO receives less than 50 seats,' added the press release.