As Ayodhya eagerly awaits the consecration of Ram Lalla at the newly built Ram Temple, the adorned city, with a host of infrastructures in place, is also looking forward to welcoming and hosting well-known dignitaries. This includes leaders, celebrities, industrialists, and sporting personalities, as their private jets and chartered planes are set to land at the newly developed Maharishi Valmiki International Airport in Ayodhya.
Sources said over 100 chartered aircraft are expected to land at MVIAA during January 20-22. Due to the limited availability of hangars and parking bays, these aircraft are to be parked at airports in the vicinity, such as Gorakhpur, Lucknow, and Varanasi.
In an effort to ensure foolproof security, on Wednesday, the Centre approved a security cover of over 150 CISF personnel for the Ayodhya airport. A range of ultra-luxurious private jets, including the 10-seater Dassault Falcon 2000, Embraer 135 LR & Legacy 650, Beechcraft Super King Air 200, Cessna, and Bombardier, are scheduled to touch down in the holy city.
Sources mentioned that chartered flights have been granted landing permission but not parking clearance at Ayodhya Airport. The lone aircraft parking space will be occupied by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s aircraft.
The “Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, Ayodhyadham” has become the country’s 68th civil airport terminal to fall under the purview of the specialized Aviation Security Group (ASG) of the central force, according to sources.
The CISF will be responsible for providing anti-terrorist and anti-sabotage coverage to the airport, which was inaugurated by the Prime Minister in December 2023. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has sanctioned an armed contingent of over 150 CISF personnel under the command of a deputy commandant-rank officer for securing the Ayodhya airport. The airport’s coverage will be expanded in phases across the 821-acre land allocated for it, as per the sources.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia stated that the airport’s capacity will be gradually increased. “In the first phase, the airport will cover an area of 65,000 square feet. Its capacity will allow it to handle two to three flights every hour. Construction is underway for a 2,200-meter runway, enabling the landing of Boeing 737, Airbus 319, and Airbus 320 at the airport. Initially, there is an airport apron for eight aircraft,” Scindia informed reporters.
He also mentioned that the cabinet’s approval will soon be sought for the second phase. “In the second phase, as already stated by the chief minister (Yogi Adityanath), the length of the runway will be increased from 2,200 meters to 3,700 meters. In other words, the runway will be around four kilometers in length, allowing international aircraft like Boeing 787 and Boeing 777 to land in Ayodhya,” Scindia said last month during the airport’s inauguration. The minister added that the second phase of the airport will cover 50,000 square metres.
