PM Narendra Modi inaugurates International Airport in Kushinagar

Kushinagar International Airport has been built at an estimated cost of Rs 260 crore and will facilitate domestic and international pilgrims to visit the 'mahaparinirvana' site of Lord Buddha and is an endeavour to connect the Buddhist pilgrimage holy sites around the world, it added.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Kushinagar on Wednesday where he inaugurated the International Airport, which is an endeavour to connect Buddhist pilgrimage sites around the world, and launch various development projects there during his visit to poll-bound Uttar Pradesh.

The PM was felicitated by Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia upon his arrival here. UP Governor Anandiben Patel, CM Yogi Adityanath and other top dignitaries were present during the occasion.

Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia felicitates PM Narendra Modi in Kushinagar. UP Governor Anandiben Patel, CM Yogi Adityanath and other dignitaries present.

The PM will inaugurate the Kushinagar International Airport shortly. pic.twitter.com/nOwun8XMJm

— ANI (@ANI) October 20, 2021

The Prime Minister's Office had earlier informed that he will also participate in an event marking Abhidhamma Day at the Mahaparinirvana Temple in Kushinagar before attending a public function to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of various development projects.

PM @narendramodi to attend Abhidhamma Day programme at Kushinagar on October 20, organised on the occasion of Kushinagar International Airport inauguration

Eminent monks from Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, South Korea, Nepal, Bhutan, Cambodia to take parthttps://t.co/zZxYXqljFX pic.twitter.com/VwtzEXqO3N

— PIB India (@PIB_India) October 19, 2021

The inauguration of the Kushinagar International Airport will be marked by the landing of the inaugural flight at the airport from Colombo, Sri Lanka, carrying a Sri Lankan delegation of over 100 Buddhist monks and dignitaries including the 12-member holy relic entourage bringing the holy Buddha relics for exposition.

The delegation also comprises anunayakas (deputy heads) of all four nikatas (orders) of Buddhism in Sri Lanka; Asgiriya, Amarapura, Ramanya, Malwatta as well as five ministers of the Lankan government led by cabinet minister Namal Rajapakshe, the PMO said.

Kushinagar International Airport

The airport has been built at an estimated cost of Rs 260 crore and will facilitate domestic and international pilgrims to visit the 'mahaparinirvana' site of Lord Buddha and is an endeavour to connect the Buddhist pilgrimage holy sites around the world, it added.

The airport will serve nearby districts of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar and is an important step in boosting investment and employment opportunities in the region.

PM Modi later tweeted, "Tomorrow is a special day for our infrastructure and civil aviation sector. The Kushinagar International Airport will be inaugurated, with the inaugural flight landing from Colombo, whose passengers include a group of respected monks. This airport will benefit UP and Bihar."

Tomorrow is a special day for our infrastructure and civil aviation sector. The Kushinagar International Airport will be inaugurated, with the inaugural flight landing from Colombo, whose passengers include a group of respected monks. This airport will benefit UP and Bihar. pic.twitter.com/ZPraanod1o

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 19, 2021

He added that it is the government's constant endeavour to boost medical-related infrastructure across the nation and noted that nine medical colleges will be either dedicated to the nation or their foundation stones would be laid.

Visit to Mahaparinirvana Temple

PM Modi will also visit the Mahaparinirvana Temple and pay his respects to the reclining statue of Lord Buddha and also plant a Bodhi tree sapling.

He will participate in an event, organised to mark 'abhidhamma' day which symbolises the end of three-month rainy retreat- 'varshavaas' or 'vassa'- for the Buddhist monks during which they stay at one place in vihara and monastery and pray.

The event will also be attended by eminent monks from Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, South Korea, Nepal, Bhutan and Cambodia, as well as ambassadors of various countries.

The PMO said PM Modi will walk through the exhibition of paintings of Ajanta frescos, Buddhist sutra calligraphy and Buddhist artefacts excavated from Vadnagar and other sites in Gujarat.

At a public event, the prime minister will lay the foundation stone of Rajkiya Medical College, Kushinagar which will be built at a cost of over Rs 280 crore. The college will have a 500-bed hospital and provide admissions to 100 students in MBBS course in the academic session 2022-2023.

He will also inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of 12 development projects worth over Rs 180 crore, it added.