At least 2,800 trees will be chopped for the development of the proposed Rs 242.14-crore Ayodhya airport in Uttar Pradesh.

The Yogi Government’s pet project, Ayodhya Airport, is planned to be developed in Faziabad city. It will be serving the districts of Bahraich, Gonda, Sultanpur, Amethi and Basti in eastern Uttar Pradesh.

The proposed airport, to be known as Maryada Purushottam Sriram Airport, Ayodhya, will be spread over  347.62 acres (140.67 ha) of land, including 177.62 acres needed for existing runway. About 170 acres (68.79 ha) of additional land has already been hand over by the district administration for the proposed development activities.

The pact for the development of the airport has been signed between the Uttar Pradesh Government and Airport Authority of India (AAI), the project proponent.

Besides 2,800 trees, the AAI has identified at least 298 other obstacles, including seven cell towers, four each electric poles and sign boards, which will be removed during its construction, said the DPR prepared by the AAI.

While seeking its approval from the Central green panel, the project proponent has enlisted a range of benefits it will bring in such as better infrastructure facilities for air passengers, promotion of tourism, trade, commerce, etc., and increase in regional economy as it will boost tourism and commercial activities in the region, besides more employment opportunities for the locals.

The State Government is providing extra land free of cost for the further expansion and for the construction of a terminal.

About two aircrafts will be operated per day in the proposed Ayodhya Airport.  With the development of the airport, there is expected to be a huge growth of air traffic from the eastern part of Uttar Pradesh, said the AAI.

According to the Government, total 76,72,337 trees were cut down between  2016-17 and 2018-19.