Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced on Thursday that on January 22, ‘Pran Partishtha Day,’ approximately 100 chartered planes are expected to land in Ayodhya.
He stated, “Around 100 chartered planes will land at the Ayodhya airport on 22nd January to attend the ‘pran pratishtha’ ceremony of the Ram Temple. This will also show us the path of checking the potential of the Ayodhya airport.”
Expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Adityanath acknowledged the inauguration of the Ayodhya Airport on December 30, 2023. He said, “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 event, PM Modi highlighted the significance of Maharishi Valmiki’s Ramayana as a source of knowledge connecting people to Shri Ram. Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, Union Minister VK Singh, and other officials launched the first tri-weekly flights between Ahmedabad and Ayodhya.
Adityanath, who received the boarding pass for the first tri-weekly flights, mentioned, “PM Modi and UP CM Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the Ayodhya Airport and Railway Station on December 30.”
The newly opened airport in Ayodhya, Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, initially has the capacity to handle 10 lakh passengers annually, with plans for expansion to accommodate 60 lakh commuters after the second phase. The terminal building, costing over Rs 1,450 crore, spans 6500 sq m and reflects the architectural style of the upcoming Shri Ram Mandir of Ayodhya.
Security at the airport is now under the control of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), while the Uttar Pradesh government has implemented an elaborate plan involving advanced security and traffic management measures. The Integrated Traffic Management System (ITMS) incorporates 1500 public CCTV cameras across the city for vigilant surveillance.
Ayodhya’s yellow zone features 10,715 AI-based cameras with face recognition technology integrated into the ITMS, enhancing overall monitoring and security. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been deployed for emergency response capabilities.
To ensure safety during the celebrations, the Ayodhya Railway Station will have heightened security, and provisions have been made for swift responses to unforeseen incidents, including fire brigade services in tent cities. The Anti-Drone System, overseen by the Special Security Force (SSF), adds an additional layer of security.
Access to the events is restricted to those invited by the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, with dedicated road and train arrangements in place. A primary hospital with 10 beds has been set up in the tent city, emphasizing cleanliness measures.
The ‘Pran Pratishtha’ ceremony of the Ram Temple is scheduled for January 22, with Vedic rituals beginning on January 16. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the installation of the idol of Ram Lalla at the grand temple, while Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed officials to implement a ‘Kumbh model of cleanliness’ in Ayodhya to ensure the city’s cleanliness and beauty during the celebrations.