Edited by Deepali Verma
The much-awaited Maharishi Valmiki International Airport in the temple city of Ayodhya was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 30. PM Modi received a rather warm and grand welcome once he landed in the city with a large number of his supporters showering petals at his convoy while he waved hands at the crowd in acknowledgement.
Ayodhya’s grand airport has been constructed by the Airport Authority of India post signing a MoU with the Government of Uttar Pradesh in April last year. The costing for the Phase 1 of the state-of-the-art airport is estimated to be more than ₹1,450 crore. The airport’s terminal building stretches over an area of 6,500 sqm, capacitated to serve about 10 lakh passengers annually.
The terminal building depicts the temple architecture of the upcoming Shri Ram Mandir. The interiors of the building are tastefully decorated with local art, paintings and murals showcasing Bhagwan Shri Ram’s life. The incorporation of various sustainability features, like an insulated roofing system, LED lighting, rainwater harvesting, landscaping with fountains, a water treatment plant, a sewage treatment plant, a solar power plant and many other such features have been provided to meet GRIHA – 5-star ratings.
The airport deems of improved connectivity in the region, leading to a boost in tourism and business activities while making new employment opportunities. AAI Chairman Sanjeev Kumar asserted that air connectivity is absolutely significant for Ayodhya and that the Airport Authority is delighted about the expansion.
“The airport is built in Ayodhya and AAI has completed it in a record time of 20 months,” said Sanjeev Kumar while speaking to ANI in Ayodhya. “Air connectivity is crucial for Ayodhya. As the passenger flow increases, the connectivity will also be boosted in Ayodhya,” he added.
The development of this airport will make it convenient for the pilgrims visiting Shri Ram Mandir along with famous nearby pilgrim destinations like Ram ki Paidi, Hanuman Garhi, Nageshwar Nath Temple, Birla Temple, etc. The development of Ayodhya Airport will bring a boost in the businesses and pilgrimage tourism throughout the year adding to an overall increase in the economy of the region.
The Airport Authority Chairman discussed the scope of expanding the terminal at the newly constructed airport sometime in the future. He said, “Ayodhya will now be accessible by air also. The terminal built now is small. However, it will be expanded in the future accordingly.”
The government’s release has informed of the airport having a runway length of 2200m and is suitable for the operation of A-321 type of Aircraft. Two link taxiways and an apron suitable for parking eight A321 types of aircraft along with a Ground Support Equipment (GSE) area have also been constructed.
The Phase 2 development of a new terminal building of 50000 sqm is planned which will have the capacity to serve 4000 passengers during peak hours and 60 lakh passengers annually. The development is said to undergo a runway extension from the existing 2200m to 3750m suitable for the operation of Code E (B-777) type of aircraft, a parallel taxi track and an apron for an additional 18 aircraft parking stands.
Ayodhya is regarded as one of the seven most important pilgrimage sites (Mokshda Yini Sapta Puris) for Hindus.
This historic day not only witnessed the grandiose inauguration of Ayodhya’s railway station and airport but also saw some dedicated announcements in terms of infrastructural development. Key projects consist of the development and beautification of tourist facilities from Naya Ghat to Laxman Ghat. The construction of a visitor gallery for events like Deepotsav and the strengthening and renovation of the pilgrim path from Ram Ki Paidi to Raj Ghat and Raj Ghat to Ram Temple has also been proposed.
A flamboyant greenfield township estimated to cost at over Rs 2,180 crore and the Vashishtha Kunj Residential Scheme, with a value of around Rs 300 crore, were also launched, promising a significant increase to Ayodhya’s urban landscape.
The foundation stone for infrastructure projects such as the Lucknow-Ayodhya section of NH-28 (the new NH-27), the revamping of the existing Ayodhya bypass, the establishment of the CIPET centre along with the construction of offices for the Municipal Corporation of Ayodhya and the Ayodhya Development Authority have additionally been announced by Prime Minister Modi.
