NEW DELHI- The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has announced plans to expand Ayodhya Airport (AYJ) for Rs 1,625 crore. This is to cater for its increasing its passenger capacity.
The current capacity of 160,000 passengers per annum will grow to 6 million, addressing the surge in devotees.
Ayodhya Airport; Photo- WikipediaAyodhya Airport Plans Major Expansion
Ayodhya (AYJ) is preparing for the upcoming Ram Navami celebrations. The Uttar Pradesh government has announced comprehensive arrangements to accommodate the influx of devotees expected for the festival.
The airport’s land area will more than double from 141 hectares to 331 hectares as part of the comprehensive expansion plan. A new passenger terminal building covering 4.4 hectares will replace the current 0.6-hectare facility.
Airport officials confirmed the expansion will be completed within 28 months.
The number of aircraft bays will increase from 8 to 18, allowing for more simultaneous flight operations. The Union Environment Ministry has already granted environmental clearance for the project.
Rising Demand
Ayodhya airport currently handles approximately 174 flights per week connecting five major Indian cities. These include Delhi (DEL), Mumbai (BOM), Bangalore (BLR), Ahmedabad (AMD), and Hyderabad (HYD). This represents an increase from 154 weekly services a year ago, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.
IndiGo (6E) has emerged as the largest operator at the airport. It has 64 services per week, nearly doubling its presence from 36 flights per week a year ago. SpiceJet (SG) follows with 42 weekly services.
Photo: avgeekwithlens/ Harsh TekriwalMeasures for Devotees
Mats will be laid from Shringarahaat to Gate Number 3 of Rampath, with regular water sprinkling to provide relief from the heat. Shaded temporary camps will be established along Dharampath, supported by drinking water facilities at 243 locations throughout the city.
The Ayodhya Municipal Corporation has deployed dedicated machinery and staff to maintain cleanliness across the city. Temporary toilets, including 34 mobile units, have been installed while an enforcement team works to keep the fairgrounds free from encroachments.
Three-Phase Cleaning Plan
Municipal Commissioner Santosh Sharma confirmed a three-phase cleaning plan covering key routes, including Dharampath, Rampath, Bhakti Path, Aarti Ghat, Chaudhary Charan Singh Ghat, and Darshan Path.
The first phase will deploy 1,204 cleaning workers, followed by 398 in the second phase and 136 in the third phase. A team of 73 supervisors will oversee operations, with 395 dustbins placed for efficient waste collection. The authorities have installed 991 toilet seats with dedicated maintenance staff and essential facilities like handwashing stations.
Ayodhya Airport; Photo- WikipediaChief Minister Monitoring Preparations
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is personally monitoring the preparations and has directed officials to ensure devotees face no inconvenience during their visit.
This dual focus on infrastructure development and festival preparations reflects Ayodhya’s growing importance as both a spiritual center and a developing tourist destination.
I visited the airport earlier this year during Maha Kumbh 2025 and the flight I chose was full of devotees and tourists. I can see tremendous progress in India’s spiritual tourism in a decade.
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IndiGo Ayodhya-Delhi Flight Diverted to Chandigarh with Just 2 Minutes of Fuel
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