‘Maharishi Valmiki International Airport Ayodhyadham’ is the new name for the recently built airport in Ayodhya, sources told India Today on Thursday. It is widely acknowledged that Valmiki wrote the epic Ramayana. The airport will now bear the name of the renowned poet Valmiki, having previously been known as the “Maryada Purshottam Shri Ram Ayodhya International Airport.”
Almost three weeks before the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya is dedicated, on Saturday, December 30, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will open the recently constructed airport in Ayodhya.
IndiGo and Air India Express will operate the inaugural flights on Saturday. Beginning in January 2024, the two airlines have already confirmed flights to Ayodhya from Delhi, Mumbai, and Ahmedabad.
Airport in Ayodhya
The airport’s first phase was developed at a cost exceeding Rs 1,450 crore. The airport’s 6500 square meter terminal building will be able to accommodate roughly 10 lakh passengers a year. The terminal building’s facade is a representation of the Ayodhya temple architecture that will soon be constructed for Ram.
The terminal building’s interiors are embellished with regional artwork, including murals and paintings that illustrate Lord Ram’s life. Ayodhya airport’s terminal building is outfitted with a number of eco-friendly features, including an LED lighting system, an insulated roofing system, rainwater harvesting, fountain-filled landscaping, and a water treatment plant.
With a yearly handling capacity of 10 lakh passengers, the airport is built to handle 600 passengers during peak hours. According to sources who spoke with India Today, the second stage of development will involve erecting a new terminal building that will be 50,000 square meters in size and able to accommodate 60 lakh passengers a year in addition to 3,000 passengers during peak hours.
(With contributions from Himanshu Mishra and Poulomi Saha)
