The airport scheduled for inauguration on December 30 in Ayodhya has reportedly undergone a name change. It will now be known as 'Maharishi Valmiki International Airport Ayodhyadham,' according to sources cited by India Today on Thursday. This decision to rename the airport is attributed to honoring the legendary poet Valmiki, celebrated as the author of the epic Ramayana.
Originally designated as the 'Maryada Purshottam Shri Ram Ayodhya International Airport,' the airport's renaming aligns with the forthcoming consecration ceremony of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, scheduled for January 22, 2024. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to inaugurate the newly constructed airport, with the initial flights to be operated by IndiGo and Air India Express.
The estimated cost of the first phase of construction for the airport stands at around Rs 1,450 crore. The newly designed terminal building, covering an area of 6,500 square meters, is tailored to accommodate 600 peak-hour passengers, boasting an annual handling capacity of 10 lakh passengers.
As per sources, the second development phase is anticipated to include constructing an expansive terminal building spanning 50,000 square meters. This upgraded facility is designed to handle 3,000 passengers during peak hours and cater to an annual passenger capacity of 60 lakh.
