Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state in India, is set to have five new airports in the next one month, taking the total number of airports in the state to 19. This was announced by Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Thursday, as he flagged off the direct flight service from Ayodhya to Ahmedabad.
The new airports will be located at Azamgarh, Aligarh, Moradabad, Chitrakoot and Shravasti, and will boost the air connectivity and economic development of the state. Scindia said that the central government is committed to providing affordable and accessible air travel to the people of Uttar Pradesh.
The minister also inaugurated the flight service from Ayodhya to Ahmedabad, which will be operated by IndiGo thrice a week. The low-cost carrier will also start flights from Ayodhya to Mumbai from January 15. Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Rama, is a major pilgrimage and tourist destination in the state.
The Maharishi Valmiki International Airport in Ayodhya was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 30, 2023. The airport, which is built on 821 acres of land, has a capacity of handling 600 passengers at peak hours. The airport will be expanded in the second phase, with an increased capacity of 3,000 passengers and a longer runway of 3,700 metres, to enable the operation of larger and international flights.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who also participated in the virtual event, said that the state government has improved the connectivity of Ayodhya by road, rail and air, in line with the prime minister’s vision. He said that around 100 chartered flights are expected at the Ayodhya airport for the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple on January 22, 2024.
Adityanath also highlighted the growth of air passengers in the state, which increased by nearly 30 per cent to 96.02 lakh in the last financial year, compared to 59.97 lakh in 2016-17. He said that improved air services contribute significantly to tourism and business activities in the state.
Scindia also praised the state government for its support and cooperation in developing the aviation sector in Uttar Pradesh. He said that the state had only 700 flight movements weekly in 2014, which has now increased to 1,654 flight movements per week. He said that the central government is working to make India the third-largest aviation market in the world by 2024.
The Surat Connection To Ayodhya Ram Mandir. Click Here
