Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, December 30, will visit the temple town of Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh to inaugurate the Maharishi Valmiki international airport, the Ayodhya Dham railway station and several other development projects worth ₹15,000 crore about three weeks before the much-anticipated Pran Pratishtha (consecration ceremony) of Ram Lalla at the Ram temple on January 22.
"Our government is determined to develop world-class infrastructure, improve connectivity and preserve the rich heritage of Ayodhya, the city of Lord Shri Ram. In this direction, I will inaugurate the newly constructed airport and redeveloped railway station tomorrow. Along with this, I will also get the privilege of inaugurating and laying the foundation stone of many more development projects, which will make the life of my family members in many areas of the country including Ayodhya and UP easier," Modi wrote on social media X on Friday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to land at the Ayodhya airport at 10.30am where his 16-km roadshow will begin.
Around 11:15am, Modi will inaugurate the redeveloped Ayodhya railway station or Ayodhya Dham railway station and flag off new Amrit Bharat trains and Vande Bharat trains, the Prime Minister's Office said.
Modi will also dedicate several other railway projects to the nation. Around 12:15pm, the prime minister will inaugurate the newly built Ayodhya airport or Maharishi Valmiki international airport.
Around 1pm, Modi will participate in a public programme where he will inaugurate, delicate to the nation and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth more than ₹15,700 crore in the state.
These include projects worth about ₹11,100 crore for the development of Ayodhya and its surrounding areas and projects worth about ₹4,600 crore related to other projects across Uttar Pradesh.
The prime minister will also initiate the development and beautification of tourist facilities spanning 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.
An ambitious greenfield township, valued at ₹2,183 crore and the Vashishtha Kunj Residential Scheme, with an estimated cost of around ₹300 crore, will also be launched, promising a significant boost to Ayodhya's urban landscape.
Modi will lay the foundation stone of infrastructure projects, including the Lucknow-Ayodhya section of NH-28 (new NH-27), modification of the existing Ayodhya bypass, the establishment of the CIPET centre, and the construction of offices for the Municipal Corporation Ayodhya and Ayodhya Development Authority.
The development momentum will extend beyond Ayodhya with Modi inaugurating and dedicating several key projects across Uttar Pradesh. These encompass the four-lane widening of Gosain Ki Bazar Bypass-Varanasi (Ghaghra Bridge-Varanasi) (NH-233), the strengthening and upgradation of the Khutar to Lakhimpur section of NH-730, and capacity enhancement of the LPG plant in Trishundi, Amethi district, Sewage Treatment Plant of 30 MLD in Pankha and 130 MLD in Jajmau, Kanpur; interception and diversion of drains and sewage treatment work in Unnao district; and CETP for Tannery Cluster at Jajmau in Kanpur.
Phase 1 of the state-of-the-art Maharishi Valmiki international airport is developed at a cost of over ₹1,450 crore, the PMO said in a statement. The airport’s terminal building will have an area of 6500 sqm, equipped to serve about 10 lakh passengers annually.
The facade of the terminal building depicts the temple architecture of the upcoming Ram Temple of Ayodhya. The interiors of the terminal building are decorated with local art, paintings and murals depicting the life of Lord Ram. The terminal building of Ayodhya airport is also equipped with various features such as an insulated roofing system, LED lighting, rainwater harvesting, landscaping with fountains, water treatment plant, sewage treatment plant, solar power plant and many other such features have been provided. The airport is expected to improve connectivity in the region and boost tourism, business activities and employment opportunities.
Phase I of the redeveloped Ayodhya railway station – known as Ayodhya Dham junction railway station – is developed at a cost of more than ₹240 crore. The three-storey modern railway station building is equipped with all modern features like lifts, escalators, food plazas, shops for puja needs, cloak rooms, child care rooms and waiting halls. The station building will be ‘accessible for all’ and ‘IGBC certified green station building’.
(With inputs from agencies)