CISF Commandos To Secure Ayodhya Airport Ahead Of Mega Ram Temple Event

A security cover of over 150 armed CISF personnel has been sanctioned by the Centre for the Ayodhya airport ahead of the consecration ceremony.

Ayodhya airport to get security cover of over 150 CISF armed personnel ( Image Source :PTI )

The Centre has sanctioned a security cover of over 150 armed personnel of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) for the Ayodhya airport, days ahead of the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple in the city scheduled to be held on January 22, reported PTI quoting official sources as saying on Tuesday. 

The CISF will provide an anti-terrorist and anti-sabotage cover to Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, Ayodhyadham that was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in December 2023. 

The force will frisk the passenger, check their baggage and secure the perimeter of the facility, the report added. 

The Ministry of Home Affairs sanctioned an armed contingent of more than 150 CISF personnel under the command of a deputy commandant-rank officer for securing the Ayodhya airport that will be enhanced in phases over the 821-acre land sanctioned for it, the report added quoting sources as saying.

The sanction comes after central security and intelligence agencies carried out a review and recommended a professional security cover for the airport like the one provided by the CISF.

Last year, Union civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia had said that the capacity of the airport will be enhanced gradually. 

"In the first phase, the airport will be spread across 65,000 square feet. Its capacity will be to handle two to three flights every hour. Work is on to build a 2,200-metre runway. It means that Boeing 737 and Airbus 319 and 320 will be able to land at the airport. Initially, there is an airport apron for eight aircraft," Scindia had told reporters.

He also said that the cabinet's approval will soon taken for the second phase. 

"In the second phase, as already said by the chief minister (Yogi Adityanath), the length of the runway will be increased from 2,200 metres to 3,700 metres. In other words, the length of the runway will be around four kilometres, so that international aircraft like Boeing 787 and Boeing 777 can land in Ayodhya," the Union minister had said.

The Maharishi Valmiki International Airport is the country's 68th civil airport terminal to come under the umbrella of the specialised Aviation Security Group (ASG) of the central force.