‘State-of-the-art’ Ayodhya airport ready to take off
Ayodhya: Equipped with modern amenities and decorated with scenes from the life of Lord Ram, the soon-to-open international airport here is expected to boost the local economy and religious tourism.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate Shri Ram International Airport and the redeveloped Ayodhya Railway Station on December 30.
On Thursday evening, a PTI team visited the airport when staff were rushing to complete civil work, and the terminal building was being decorated with Tricolour-themed clothes.
While the core of the newly constructed airport, located about 15 km from the main Ayodhya city, has used modern construction materials, the terminal facade has been given a traditional look as has the new building at Ayodhya station.
Even the main entrance is built in a similar manner, with a concrete core and a sandstone cladding with stylized carvings.
The main road leading to the airport from Sitapur Road has been decorated with many posters bearing Prime Minister Modi’s photographs and welcome messages.
Decorative lamp posts have been installed on this route, while greenery in the middle enhances the beauty of the area.
Huge welcome posters bearing Modi’s photos and describing Ayodhya as a holy city have also been put up on the Ayodhya bypass, while many houses along that road now have saffron flags with pictures of Lord Ram or Lord Hanuman and ‘Jai Shri’ slogans on their rooftops. Raise slogans. to hit’.
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) issued a statement on Thursday saying that Prime Minister Modi will visit Ayodhya on December 30.
At around 11:15 am, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the redeveloped Ayodhya railway station and flag off the new Amrit Bharat trains and Vande Bharat trains, adding that he will also dedicate several other railway projects to the nation.
The PMO said that the Prime Minister will inaugurate the Ayodhya airport at around 12:15 pm.
The statement said the Prime Minister will later attend a public event where he will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of several development projects worth over Rs 15,700 crore in the state, which are sensitive for the nation.
“Phase 1 of the state-of-the-art airport has been developed at a cost of over Rs 1,450 crore. The airport terminal building will have an area of 6,500 square metres, equipped to serve approximately 10 lakh passengers annually.” Said.
The statement said the facade of the terminal building “reflects the temple architecture of the upcoming Shri Ram temple in Ayodhya.”
The interiors of the terminal building are decorated with local art, paintings and murals depicting the life of Lord Rama.
Ayodhya Airport has an extended runway suitable for A-321/B-737 type aircraft operations.
Airline IndiGo had earlier this month said it would operate the inaugural flight from the national capital to Ayodhya airport on December 30 and commercial services would begin from January 6.
After this, tri-weekly flights will be started between Ahmedabad and Ayodhya from January 11.
Ayushi Kasodhan, a native of Ayodhya and an engineering student pursuing B.Tech from a college in Noida, said this will help her reach home quickly during holidays.
He said, “This airport was much needed as trains run late at times. I usually take Ayodhya Express or Kaifiyat Express from Delhi and it takes about 15 hours by train. So, I am happy to see it open for passengers. Eagerly waiting.” PTI here.
Kasaudhan had traveled from Ayodhya on Thursday evening, along with some family members, to see the new airport. Many other city residents are also excited about its inauguration.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia’s office posted a teaser video on the inauguration of the airport on Thursday.
“Just as the construction work of Ram Temple in Ayodhya is at its peak, similarly the construction of Ayodhya Airport is also in its final stages to welcome the devotees, which will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Shri @NarendraModi Ji on 30 December 2023 “
“This state-of-the-art airport, decorated in the theme of the epic Ramayana, will take the development of pilgrimage and tourism in the entire region to new heights,” the post said.
Prime Minister Modi’s visit will take place just before the consecration of the Ram temple under construction in Ayodhya.
At present, construction of a grand Ram temple is going on in Ayodhya, whose consecration ceremony will be held on January 22, in which the Prime Minister will attend.
