First Flight To Ayodhya Airport Takes Off, Pilot Welcomes Passengers- Watch

The excitement is palpable as this marks the commencement of operations at the newly constructed airport, adding another gem to Ayodhya's cultural and aviation landscape.

Representational Image

New Delhi: In the wake of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's inauguration of the Maharishi Valmiki International Airport in Ayodhya on Saturday, the first flight bound for the newly unveiled airport gracefully ascended from Delhi.

A video posted by news agency ANI on X (formerly Twitter) captured the moment when IndiGo's pilot, Captain Ashutosh Shekhar, extended a warm welcome to passengers on the Ayodhya-bound flight. Expressing gratitude for the significant opportunity, he concluded with resounding 'Jai Shri Ram' chants echoed by passengers.

#WATCH | IndiGo pilot captain Ashutosh Shekhar welcomes passengers as the first flight takes off from Delhi for the newly constructed Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, Ayodhya Dham, in Ayodhya, UP. pic.twitter.com/rWkLSUcPVF — ANI (@ANI) December 30, 2023

Enthusiastic visuals also portrayed passengers joyously chanting "Jai Shri Ram" as they boarded the inaugural flight to Ayodhya.

Situated just 15 kilometers from the heart of Ayodhya, the airport's phase 1 development, costing over Rs 1,450 crore, was unveiled by PM Modi in the company of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia.

Spanning a total area of 6,500 sqm, the airport's terminal is primed to cater to approximately 10 lakh passengers annually, marking a significant stride in the region's connectivity.

This milestone precedes the eagerly awaited 'pran pratishtha' (consecration ceremony) of the Lord Ram idol at the under-construction Ram temple scheduled for January 22.