Amid the growing commotion over the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh government is trying to bring Ayodhya on the global map as it decides to develop a full-fledged airport in the city.
This airport will be developed in neighboring Faizabad town where an airstrip already exists. The current condition of airstrip barely allows landing of a nine-seater aircraft and is just 1.5 km long and 30 meters wide.
According to experts, the airstrip needs to have a length of 2.5 km and a width of 45 meters added to which there should be at least 100-150 meters set-off area on either side of the runway, only then can the bigger aircrafts land. The state government has planned to procure 280 acres of land which will give an ample amount of space for the planned new airport.
Times of India obtained a copy of the note sent by the Airport Authority of India to Uttar Pradesh’s Department of Civil Aviation, the AAI has advised the state government to prepare a master plan to envisage acquisition of at least 284 acres of land around the existing airstrip so that it allows landing of 200-seater A-321 aircraft.
For the landing of aircraft of ATR category, at least 224 acres of land is required around the site. Nand Gopal Nandi, Civil aviation minister in Yogi Cabinet while in conversation with Times of India said that the government will soon start the procurement process. He said, “The state government is committed to the development of an airport in Ayodhya which is not only associated with the faith of crores of Hindus but also a national pilgrimage centre. An airport will allow pilgrims from across the country to land in Ayodhya directly.”
Union Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu has also spoken to CM Yogi about the steps that the government needs to take for development of the airport in Ayodhya. Apparently, the idea of having an airport in Ayodhya was first conceived during the UPA regime in 2013-14 and then the Airport Authority of India had advised for procuring 251 acres of land for the project. There was even a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the SP and then Samajwadi Party government but ‘as usual’ nothing could ever be substantiated.
But with the efforts of Yogi Adityanath government, the work will soon commence and people will benefit from this development. Earlier, if someone wanted to visit Ayodhya and took flight then he/she had to fly to Lucknow and then travel a distance of approximately 150 km. via road to Ayodhya. Once the airport is developed then people will be able to reach Ayodhya directly.
This is also done keeping in mind the fact that an airport will bring in tourists which will boost the economy of the state. Also, the Uttar Pradesh government is building a Ram statue in Ayodhya. There will be an installation of a 151-meter tall statue on the banks of Sarayu river in Ayodhya. Yogi government is all set to transform Ayodhya into a prime tourist destination.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Modi inaugurated Bamrauli airport complex that will help in handling more number of passenger flights as Ardh Kumbh Mela commences on 15th January 2019.
