PM unveils Ayodhya's modern infra, inaugurates airport

02 Jan 2024 CW Team

Addressing the public, the Prime Minister expressed his joy at naming Ayodhya Airport after Maharishi Valmiki. He emphasised that Maharishi Valmiki's Ramayana represents the path of knowledge connecting individuals to Shri Ram. The modern Maharishi Valmiki International Airport is envisioned to link Ayodhya Dham and the newly-constructed Ram temple, with an initial capacity to accommodate 10 lakh passengers annually in the first phase. After the second phase, the airport is expected to cater to 60 lakh commuters annually.

The state-of-the-art airport, developed at a cost exceeding Rs 14.5 billion in Phase 1, features a terminal building covering 6,500 sqm designed to serve approximately 10 lakh passengers annually. The terminal's facade mirrors the architecture of the upcoming Shri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, adorned with local art, paintings, and murals depicting the life of Bhagwan Shri Ram. The terminal also incorporates sustainable features such as an insulated roofing system, LED lighting, rainwater harvesting, fountains, water treatment and sewage treatment plants, a solar power plant, and more, aiming for a GRIHA 5-star rating. This development is anticipated to enhance connectivity, promoting tourism, business activities, and employment opportunities in the region.

The surge in tourism has attracted significant interest from hotel chains and investors, prompting the Uttar Pradesh Housing and Development Board to conduct an online hotel land auction. Leading hospitality and travel services companies, including IHCL, Marriott, Sarovar Hotels & Resorts, and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, have entered agreements for hotels in Ayodhya due to the ongoing infrastructure development. Five branded hotels with a total of 520 rooms are currently under construction.

Industry experts estimate the development cost of Ayodhya hotels to be around Rs 3.5 billion, with most hotels expected to open after 2024. Sarovar Hotels & Resorts plans to unveil its 80-room Park Inn by Radisson in tandem with the city's growth. Major hospitality firms are keenly interested in catering to pilgrimage travel to Ayodhya, the revered birthplace of Lord Shri Ram.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Ayodhya to inaugurate the refurbished Ayodhya Dham railway station and unveil the newly-constructed Maharishi Valmiki International Airport. This visit preceded the consecration of the Ram temple scheduled for January 22, 2024. During the visit, PM Modi laid the foundation stone for various development projects valued at over Rs 157 billion in the state. Among them were initiatives amounting to approximately Rs 111 billion for the development of Ayodhya and its environs, as well as projects totalling around Rs 46 billion across Uttar Pradesh. Addressing the public, the Prime Minister expressed his joy at naming Ayodhya Airport after Maharishi Valmiki. He emphasised that Maharishi Valmiki's Ramayana represents the path of knowledge connecting individuals to Shri Ram. The modern Maharishi Valmiki International Airport is envisioned to link Ayodhya Dham and the newly-constructed Ram temple, with an initial capacity to accommodate 10 lakh passengers annually in the first phase. After the second phase, the airport is expected to cater to 60 lakh commuters annually. The state-of-the-art airport, developed at a cost exceeding Rs 14.5 billion in Phase 1, features a terminal building covering 6,500 sqm designed to serve approximately 10 lakh passengers annually. The terminal's facade mirrors the architecture of the upcoming Shri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, adorned with local art, paintings, and murals depicting the life of Bhagwan Shri Ram. The terminal also incorporates sustainable features such as an insulated roofing system, LED lighting, rainwater harvesting, fountains, water treatment and sewage treatment plants, a solar power plant, and more, aiming for a GRIHA 5-star rating. This development is anticipated to enhance connectivity, promoting tourism, business activities, and employment opportunities in the region. The surge in tourism has attracted significant interest from hotel chains and investors, prompting the Uttar Pradesh Housing and Development Board to conduct an online hotel land auction. Leading hospitality and travel services companies, including IHCL, Marriott, Sarovar Hotels & Resorts, and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, have entered agreements for hotels in Ayodhya due to the ongoing infrastructure development. Five branded hotels with a total of 520 rooms are currently under construction. Industry experts estimate the development cost of Ayodhya hotels to be around Rs 3.5 billion, with most hotels expected to open after 2024. Sarovar Hotels & Resorts plans to unveil its 80-room Park Inn by Radisson in tandem with the city's growth. Major hospitality firms are keenly interested in catering to pilgrimage travel to Ayodhya, the revered birthplace of Lord Shri Ram.

Infrastructure Urban

27 Oct 2025

Coal Ministry Achieves Milestones under Special Campaign 5.0

The Ministry of Coal and its Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) have achieved notable milestones under the Special Campaign 5.0, focusing on cleanliness, operational efficiency, and sustainability across the coal sector. During the implementation phase from 2–31 October 2025, over 1,205 sites were cleaned, covering 68,04,087 sq ft, nearing the target of 82,51,511 sq ft. Scrap disposal of 5,813 MT against a target of 8,678 MT generated Rs 228.7 million in revenue. In addition, 1,11,248 physical and 30,331 electronic files were reviewed, with 74,123 weeded out or closed. Key initiatives showc..

Infrastructure Energy

27 Oct 2025

Vesting Orders Issued for Three Coal Blocks under Commercial Auctions

The Ministry of Coal’s Nominated Authority has issued vesting orders for three coal blocks under commercial coal block auctions on 23 October 2025. The Coal Mine Development and Production Agreements (CMDPAs) for these mines were earlier signed on 21 August 2025. The three blocks include Rajgamar Dipside (Deavnara), Tangardihi North, and Mahuagarhi. Of these, two are partially explored while one is fully explored, with a combined peak rated capacity of around 1 MTPA and geological reserves of approximately 1,484.41 million tonnes. These mines are expected to generate annual revenue of abou..

Infrastructure Urban

27 Oct 2025

TEC, IIT-Hyderabad Partner to Boost 6G and Telecom Standards

The Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC), technical arm of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IIT Hyderabad) for joint research and technical collaboration in advanced telecom technologies and standardisation. The partnership focuses on developing India-specific standards and test frameworks for next-generation networks, including 6G, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs). It also aims to enhance India’s participation in international standardisation f..