The Ayodhya International Airport, now called Maharishi Valmiki International Airport Ayodhya Dham, is a new international airport being built for Ayodhya and Faizabad in Uttar Pradesh, India. It’s next to two highways, NH-27 and NH-330, in Naka, Faizabad, Ayodhya district. The Uttar Pradesh Government renamed it after Lord Rama in 2021. They made a deal with the Airports Authority of India in February 2014 to develop the airport. Construction started in February 2022. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will open it on December 30, 2023, and flights will start on January 10, 2024.
Airport Development
“Since 2012, the Indian Civil Aviation Ministry has been actively working to enhance regional air connectivity in Uttar Pradesh. Initiatives led by former Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh included upgrading airstrips at Faizabad, Moradabad, and Meerut. This was part of a broader plan to boost socio-economic growth and tourism through improved air connectivity. The Ministry requested land from Uttar Pradesh’s Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav for establishing nine new airports, aiming to foster employment and economic development.
A significant aspect of this expansion is the development of low-cost airports. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) was tasked with finding a suitable low-cost model for smaller airports, aligning with the government’s UDAN Scheme to connect diverse parts of India through air travel.
Further steps were taken in 2008 when the Uttar Pradesh government allowed private aircraft to use a former Indian Air Force airstrip for a nominal fee. This move facilitated private flying and encouraged the development of aviation-related training and maintenance facilities.
By 2013, the government had handed over the Faizabad airstrip, along with others in Meerut, Moradabad, and Saifai, to the AAI for full-fledged airport development. The state provided additional land at no cost to support this expansion.
Under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s tenure in 2018, significant progress was made in Faizabad. The government approved its development into an international airport and allocated funds for land acquisition. The construction commenced in 2022 and was completed by December 2023. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the airport in December 2023, with flight operations by IndiGo to Delhi and Ahmedabad starting in January 2024. The airport is expected to be fully operational before the completion of the Ram Mandir in 2024.”
Airport Structure
Maharishi Valmiki International Airport Ayodhya Dham (Ayodhya Airport) Runway Development
- Original Runway at Ayodhya Airport:
- Length: 1,500 meters (4,900 ft)
- Width: 30 meters (98 ft)
- Capacity: Suitable for nine-seater aircraft like Dornier 228 at Ayodhya Airport.
- 2018 Expansion Plan for Maharishi Valmiki International Airport Ayodhya Dham:
- Additional Land Required: 284 acres.
- Objective: To enable Ayodhya Airport to handle 200-seater Airbus A321 aircraft.
- Government’s Response for Ayodhya Airport Expansion:
- Land Acquisition: Over 280 acres surrounding Ayodhya Airport.
- New Runway Dimensions: 2,500 meters (8,200 ft) long, 45 meters (148 ft) wide.
- Additional Features: 100-150 meter set-off area on each side of Ayodhya Airport’s runway.
- Construction Phases at Ayodhya Airport:
- Phase 1: Runway length to be 2,250 meters.
- Phase 2: Extension to 3,125 meters.
- Phase 3 (Planned): Further extension to 3,750 meters to accommodate large aircraft like the Airbus A380 at Maharishi Valmiki International Airport Ayodhya Dham.
Terminals at Maharishi Valmiki International Airport Ayodhya Dham
- Terminal 1 of Ayodhya Airport
- Size: 6,500 sq.m.
- Capacity: 300 passengers during peak hours, 600,000 passengers annually.
- Key Facilities: Parking for four Airbus A320, vehicle parking, approach road, fuel farm, fire station, ATC tower.
- Operational Date: 10 January 2024 at Ayodhya Airport.
- Terminal 2 of Maharishi Valmiki International Airport Ayodhya Dham
- Size: 30,000 sq.m. (expandable to 50,000 sq.m.).
- Capacity: 3,200 passengers during peak hours, 5-7 million passengers annually.
- Facilities: Eight aerobridges, parking for eight Airbus A320/Boeing 737 (expandable to 16), garden, larger parking area.
- Current Status: Bidding process underway as of November 2023 for this terminal at Ayodhya Airport.
- Terminal 3 of Ayodhya Airport
- Size: Over 50,000 sq.m.
- Capacity: Exceeds that of Terminals 1 and 2.
- Features: Parking for eight widebody aircraft, larger garden and parking spaces, new ATC tower, bigger fire station.
- Note: Despite ambitious plans, it is uncertain if Maharishi Valmiki International Airport Ayodhya Dham will see high passenger traffic; these plans could be part of political strategy.
Facilities at Maharishi Valmiki International Airport Ayodhya Dham
- Phase One Amenities at Ayodhya Airport:
- Inside: 9 check-in counters, 3 conveyor belts, tactile paths to apron.
- Outside: Four vehicle parking spaces, four-lane approach road, fire station, ATC tower, fuel farm, hotels.
- Further Development Phases at Ayodhya Airport:
- Enhancements: Upgraded facilities to match international standards.
- Additional Infrastructure: A medical college to be situated between Terminals 2 and 3.
Design Features of Ayodhya Airport
- Cultural Theme of Maharishi Valmiki International Airport Ayodhya Dham: Emphasizes local and state culture and heritage.
- Architectural Style: Inspired by the Nagara style, reflecting the epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata.
- Key Design Elements at Ayodhya Airport:
- Exterior: Bow and arrow mural, portraits of Lord Rama.
- Construction: Red stone with intricately carved pillars.
- Roof Design: Supported by seven columns, each representing a kanda from Ramayana.
- Sustainability: Ayodhya Airport focuses on eco-friendly practices, including clean energy usage and efficient waste management.
Project timeline
| Date | Details |
|---|---|
| 12 August 2020 | Nand Gopal Gupta, Minister of Civil Aviation, Government of Uttar Pradesh, said Rs 525 crore has been approved and of this Rs 300 crore have been spent so far. |
| 16 September 2020 | Airports Authority of India projected land requirement of 478.1 acres to Government of Uttar Pradesh for development of the airport in Phase – I. |
| 10 March 2021 | Airports Authority of India sanctions Rs 242 crore to develop airport and an area of around 270 acres has been made available by Government of Uttar Pradesh. |
| 8 April 2022 | Government of Uttar Pradesh’s civil aviation department signed a lease agreement with Airports Authority of India for transfer of 317.855 acres of land. Yogi Adityanath said the remaining 86 acres land required for the airport will also be handed over soon. |
| 6 December 2022 | The airport’s terminal is 45% and the runway is 45% completed, and is on track for completion in December 2023. |
| 2 December 2023 | It was announced that the airport’s first phase of work will be completed by 15 December 2023. |
| 12 December 2023 | It was announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the airport on 30 December 2023, and commercial flights will be started by IndiGo to Delhi and Ahmedabad from 10 January 2024. |
| 23 December 2023 | The initial schedule for this flight was to depart from Delhi at 10:00 AM and land in Ayodhya at 11:20 AM, but according to the new schedule for the inauguration day on 30 December, the flight for Ayodhya from Delhi will now take off at 9:50 AM, with the first flight landing in Ayodhya at 11:00 AM. According to the information, after the first flight on 30 December, this flight will be operational from 10 January onwards. Subsequently, there will be daily flights from Ayodhya to Delhi at the same time, and more destinations in India starting from the same month, to be operated by Air India Express and IndiGo. |