Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Ayodhya on December 30 to inaugurate significant infrastructure projects valued at ₹11,100 crore, an official government statement said. Among the key inaugurations are the Ayodhya Airport and Ayodhya Dham Junction Railway Station. Additionally, PM Modi will launch two new Amrit Bharat trains and six Vande Bharat trains. As the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple approaches, the Prime Minister will also mark the inauguration of four new roads within Ayodhya.
During his visit, PM Modi is set to lay the foundation stone for a greenfield township in Ayodhya. The official schedule outlines that the Prime Minister will unveil the railway station at 11.15 am and subsequently initiate the new train services. Following this, at 12.15 pm, he will officially open the Ayodhya Airport. The day's events will culminate around 1 pm with a public programme where the Prime Minister will dedicate multiple developmental projects, amounting to more than ₹15,700 crore across the state.
Of the allocated funds, ₹11,100 crore is earmarked for projects specifically aimed at Ayodhya and its adjacent regions, with an additional ₹4,600 crore dedicated to other cities within Uttar Pradesh.
The statement said, "The Prime Minister envisions establishing world-class infrastructure in Ayodhya, enhancing connectivity, and modernising civic amenities, all while preserving the city's rich historical and cultural heritage." The statement further detailed that the initial phase of the Ayodhya airport, constructed at a cost of ₹1,450 crore, features a terminal spanning 6,500 square meters designed to accommodate up to 10 lakh passengers annually.
"The terminal building's design draws inspiration from the architecture of the upcoming Shri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Furthermore, the interiors showcase local artistry, paintings, and murals depicting the life of Bhagwan Shri Ram," the statement read.
Ayodhya is humming with activity as preparations for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's expected visit on Saturday pick up pace.
Commenting on the progress of the construction work across the city ahead of the mega event on January 22, Nripendra Misra, chairman of Ayodhya Ram Mandir Construction Committee, said: "No work happens in a hurry but it happens according to quality. The work that needs to be done is underway...the construction work has been kept in 3 phases...1st phase is till December 2023, 2nd is in 2024, when the entire construction of the temple will be done and in 3rd phase, the construction work of surroundings of the temple will also be done," he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.