Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced on Thursday that approximately 100 chartered planes are scheduled to land in Ayodhya on January 22 for the ‘Pran Pratishtha Day’ ceremony. He expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for providing Uttar Pradesh with its fourth international airport, inaugurating the Ayodhya Airport on December 30, 2023. Adityanath added, “I am grateful to PM Narendra Modi for giving the fourth international airport to Uttar Pradesh. The Ayodhya airport was inaugurated on December 30th.”
During the inauguration, Prime Minister Modi, at a public event, highlighted the significance of Maharishi Valmiki’s Ramayana as a path of knowledge connecting people to Shri Ram. Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, Union Minister VK Singh, and other senior officials launched the first tri-weekly flights between Ahmedabad and Ayodhya. Chief Minister Adityanath was the recipient of the first tri-weekly flight’s boarding pass.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia mentioned, “PM Modi and UP CM Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the Ayodhya Airport and Railway Station on December 30.” He further added, “We started the first flight between Ayodhya and Delhi on December 30th, operated by IndiGo and Air India Express. Today we are going to connect Ayodhya with Ahmedabad.”
As the first flight for Ayodhya departed from Ahmedabad, passengers at the Ahmedabad airport arrived dressed as Lord Ram, Lakshman, Sita, and Hanuman. The Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, developed at a cost exceeding Rs 1,450 crore, can initially handle 10 lakh passengers annually. After the second phase, it is expected to accommodate 60 lakh commuters annually. The airport’s terminal building, covering an area of 6500 sq m, is designed to serve about 10 lakh passengers each year. Its facade mirrors the temple architecture of the upcoming Shri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
Security responsibilities for Maharishi Valmiki International Airport were handed over to the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). To ensure comprehensive safety and traffic management, the Uttar Pradesh government implemented measures such as the Integrated Traffic Management System (ITMS), integrating 1500 public CCTV cameras across the city. Ayodhya’s yellow zone will feature 10,715 AI-based cameras with face recognition technology, integrated with ITMS for enhanced monitoring and security.
Emergency response capabilities have been reinforced with the deployment of teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF). SDRF teams will conduct regular boat patrols with a focus on safety measures, and an arrangement of four cruise boats by January 20 will enhance water surveillance during the celebrations.
Ayodhya Railway Station will experience heightened security by the Railway Protection Force from January 27 to February 15. Fire brigade provisions in all tent cities, citywide police patrols, and stringent verification procedures for external individuals are part of the overall security plan. An Anti-Drone System, overseen by the Special Security Force (SSF), adds an extra layer of security.
The public is advised that only those invited by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust will be allowed entry from January 20 to 22, with road and train arrangements in place. A primary hospital with 10 beds has been established in the tent city, emphasizing cleanliness measures. As Ayodhya prepares for the ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony of the Ram Temple on January 22, which includes Vedic rituals beginning on January 16, these measures are implemented to ensure the safety and well-being of residents and visitors alike. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s directive for a ‘Kumbh model of cleanliness’ underscores the commitment to presenting Ayodhya, known as ‘Ramnagari,’ as the cleanest and most beautiful city during these significant celebrations.