Air Connectivity In UP: These 5 Cities To Have Airports Next Month

Uttar Pradesh is enhancing travel convenience with the upcoming launch of five new airports: Azamgarh, Aligarh, Moradabad, Chitrakoot, and Shravasti, bringing the total number of airports in the state to 19.

Last week, the Union Civil Aviation Minister, Jyotiraditya Scindia, announced this development while inaugurating a direct flight from Ayodhya to Ahmedabad, just days before the Ram Mandir Temple's inauguration. These five airports are scheduled to commence operations next month, coinciding with the recent Maharishi Valmiki International Airport opening in Ayodhya by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 30.

Better Connectivity

IndiGo, initiating services between Ayodhya and Delhi on January 11, will conduct flights connecting Ayodhya and Ahmedabad thrice a week. The airline has begun operations on the Mumbai-Ayodhya route starting January 15. Scindia virtually launched the flight from Ayodhya to Ahmedabad from the national capital.

According to Scindia, plans are underway to expand the Ayodhya airport, including extending the runway to accommodate larger aircraft and facilitate international flight operations.

Increase In Air Travellers' Percentage

Emphasising the substantial contribution of enhanced air services to tourism and business activities, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath noted a remarkable growth of almost 30 per cent in air travellers within the state. In the last financial year, the count rose to 96.02 lakh compared to 59.97 lakh in fiscal year 2016-17.

The chief minister highlighted Ayodhya's increasing popularity as a destination and affirmed the government's efforts to enhance its connectivity through road, rail, and air, in line with the prime minister's vision.

Before the scheduled consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla on January 22, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced the discontinuation of curfews, envisioning a calm atmosphere during 'Sankirtan'—the devotional singing for Lord Ram. Underlining a move away from forceful actions, the CM emphasised a symbolic shift, discussing the substitution of bullets with the distribution of laddus to Ram devotees. Adityanath shared these comments while presenting a specially crafted attire for Ram Lalla, a collaborative effort involving 12 lakh artisans nationwide and led by the Heritage Handweaving Revival Charitable Trust.

With inputs from PTI