Ayodhya Airport: Phase I Construction Set To Complete By August, Airlines Gear Up For Commercial Operations

Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram International Airport's first phase of the airport is set to be finished in August of this year.

It is situated eight km from the Ram temple in Ayodhya and will combine tradition with modernity.

The Uttar Pradesh government and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) are developing the existing airstrip in Faizabad near Ayodhya as an international airport.

Airlines are preparing to operate flights to Ayodhya, which is expected to become a major transit point for pilgrims worldwide once the Ram Temple is constructed.

The domestic terminal Building will be centrally air-conditioned, having an area of 6,000 sq. m. capable of handling 300 peak-hour passengers with all modern facilities and amenities, including three aerobridges. The terminal will have an annual handling capacity of over 600,000 passengers.

The current airstrip is located in an area of 177.62 acres of land. For the proposed development activities, an additional area of 170 acres of land free from all encumbrances has been handed over by the district administration to AAI.

The international airport will be developed in multiple phases in an overall area of 660 acres of land.

The terminal's roof will feature decorative columns that will pictorially display important events from the story of Ramayana.

Additionally, the roof will be adorned with Shikharas of varying heights to give the structure a sense of grandeur. The glass facade of the terminal will be designed to recreate the feeling of being in the palace of Ayodhya.

Officials have stated that the building will be both aesthetically and functionally impressive, combining local architecture with a modern architectural style.

The building incorporates environmentally responsive systems such as skylights, solar power systems, and efficient rainwater harvesting to reduce energy consumption and improve efficiency.

The terminal will feature eight check-in counters and three conveyor belts, with two in the arrival area and one in the departure area.

Uttar Pradesh Tourism figures show that Ayodhya attracted approximately 154 million tourists in 2021, and this number is expected to grow exponentially.

A senior official stated that the first phase of the project would cost approximately Rs 350 crore to complete.

"We will complete the civil, electrical, IT, and all related project activities of phase-1 by August. This phase is for domestic operations. After that, we will require some additional time to obtain all the necessary regulatory approvals to begin commercial operations," said an official, reports Financial Express.

Upon completion of the first phase, the airport will be able to accommodate four Airbus A320-type aircraft.