Indian PM Narendra Modi on Saturday (December 30, 2023)  inaugurated the Maharshi Valmiki Airport in Ayodhya and several other projects including a revamped railway station in the north Indian city.

In the city, considered as holy by Hindu community members and considered as the birthplace of Hindu deity Lord Ram, Modi dedicated to the nation and laid the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth more than Rs 15,700 crore.

Modi inaugurated the redeveloped Ayodhya Railway Station and flagged off new Amrit Bharat trains and Vande Bharat trains.  He also dedicated several other railway projects to the nation. After that, he  also inaugurated the newly built Ayodhya Airport. The airport has been named Maharishi Valmiki International Airport.

Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister, while expressing delight to be in Ayodhya Dham, noted the fervour and enthusiasm in the holy city during his roadshow.

The Prime Minister said: "The world is eagerly waiting for 22nd January. I am a devotee of every particle and person of India, I too am eager for the day of Pran Pratishtha at the upcoming Ram Temple."

The Prime Minister noted the significance of 30th December as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose unfurled tricolour on this day in Andaman in 1943.

“On such an auspicious day associated with the freedom movement, today we are carrying forward the resolve of the Amrit Kaal,” he added.

He said that the campaign of Viksit Bharat is getting new energy from Ayodhya and congratulated the people of Ayodhya for the development projects.

He emphasized that these projects will re-establish Ayodhya on the national map.

The Prime Minister stressed that taking care of heritage is an integral part of scaling new heights of development.

“Not only Awadh region, but Ayodya will give new direction to the development of the entire Uttar Pradesh,” said PM Modi.

He pointed out the projected increase of pilgrims and tourists coming to the holy city in the wake of the grand temple and said that infrastructure is being revamped to meet the demand.

The Prime Minister expressed happiness on naming Ayodhya Airport after Maharishi Valmiki.

He said Maharishi Valmiki’s Ramayana is the path of knowledge which connects us to Lord Ram. Maharishi Valmiki International Airport in modern India will connect us to Ayodhya Dham and the divine-grand-new Ram temple.

In the first phase the airport can handle 10 lakh passengers annually and after the second phase, Maharishi Valmiki International Airport will cater to 60 lakh commuters annually.

Ayodhya Dham Railway Station handles 10 thousand people now this will reach 60 thousand after revamping will be complete, he informed.

Similarly, he informed that with Ram Path, Bhakti Path, Dharm Path and Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Path, car parkings, new medical colleges, preventing pollution of Saryu ji, transformation of Ram ki Pedi, upgradation of the ghats, renovation of ancient kunds, Lata Mangeshkar Chowk are giving new identity to Ayodhya and creating new avenues of income and employment in the holy city.

The Prime Minister informed about the new train series ‘Amrit Bharat’ trains after Vande Bharat and Namo Bharat and expressed delight that the first Amrit Bharat train is going through Ayodhya.

He congratulated people of UP, Delhi, Bihar, West Bengal and Karnataka for getting these trains today.

The Prime Minister asked all the 140 crore Indians to light Shri Ram Jyoti.

“This historical moment has very fortunately come into the lives of all of us. We have to take a new resolution for the country and fill it with new energy,” PM Modi said.

Keeping in mind the desire of everyone to be present for Pran Pratishtha, the Prime Minister also requested everyone to plan their visit to Ayodhya only after the programme of 22nd January as it is important from the point of view of security and arrangements.

He asked everyone to plan their visit after 23rd January.

“We waited for 550 years, wait for some more time,” he requested.