Flights could start operating from the new Ayodhya airport this December ahead of the inauguration of the Shri Ram Temple next January. The Centre also has a plan to expand the airport by nearly five times.

The present airport, which will start operating from December, has a terminal building in an area of 6250 sq.m. that can handle 500 passengers during peak hours, has a runway of 2,200 meters and capacity to park four aircraft.

The proposed phase-2 of the project will be much bigger. It will have a new terminal building with an area of 30,000 sq.m, which will be capable of serving a total of 3,200 passengers during peak hours. The phase-2 will also see runway extension from 2,200 m to 3,125 m and Apron extension to park eight A-321 type aircraft.

“To meet the ever-increasing passenger traffic and demand in this region, it is proposed to construct a new Terminal building, Apron and Runway Extension to cater to the passengers’ convenience in future growth of Ayodhya Airport. Ayodhya has been regarded as first one of the seven most important pilgrimage sites (Mokshdayini Sapt Puris) for Hindus. The Airport will serve as a Gateway for Hindu pilgrims," says a Union Civil Aviation Ministry document, reports News18.

The inauguration of the Sri Ram Temple is expected between January 22-24 next year by the PM.

The Centre moved for environment clearance for Phase-2 of the project last week. Uttar Pradesh government officials also said that land is being acquired on war footing for the expanded airport and the bigger runway.

The Ayodhya airport will be known as the ‘Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram International Airport’. The Ayodhya administration, earlier this month, said the runway work of phase-1 of the project was complete and the ATC tower has also been made ready. In the first phase, the plan is to start flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad, and later from more metros.

Source: News18