AAI Reveals Plans To Handle Ayodhya Rush

In preparation for the Pran Pratistha ceremony at the Ram Mandir on 22 January, the Civil Aviation ministry is taking extensive measures to ensure a smooth handling of the expected influx of chartered planes carrying VIPs to Ayodhya. 

To address the parking needs of VIP aircraft, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has identified 12 airports across five states – Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand. These airports will be utilised for systematic parking of private and chartered jets transporting important guests to the event. 

The Maharishi Valmiki International Ayodhya Airport, which recently opened, presents a challenge with only four parking spaces allocated for single-aisle jets. One of these slots will be exclusively reserved for Prime Minister Modi's aircraft, Air India One. 

After Air India One lands at Ayodhya airport, no other plane will be permitted to park there. To address this limitation, a dozen airports within a 1,000-kilometer range have been requested to share their parking spaces, serving as overnight stops for the jets after dropping off dignitaries in Ayodhya. 

Proposed alternatives include airports in Khajuraho, Jabalpur, Bhopal, Dehradun, Lucknow, Prayagraj, Kanpur, Varanasi, Kushinagar, Gorakhpur, Gaya and Deoghar. 

According to sources, the AAI has received numerous requests to land 48 chartered planes in Ayodhya on 22 January. Some of the expected arrivals include luxurious private jets such as the 10-seater Dassault Falcon 2000, Embraer 135 LR & Legacy 650, Cessna, Beechcraft Super King Air 200 and Bombardier. Ayodhya's airport is well-equipped to handle landings in all weather conditions, including night landings. 

Varanasi airport, currently capable of accommodating 12 non-scheduled flights simultaneously along with 10 larger aircraft and one smaller plane, has secured parking for 30 flights scheduled between 21 and 23 January, according to airport director Puneet Gupta. 

Additionally, several helicopters are expected to participate in the ceremony, with efforts made to accommodate most of them locally. However, any potential overflow may be directed to Lucknow and Gorakhpur. 

In addition to logistical challenges, airport officials are contending with ongoing foggy weather conditions. Gupta clarified that landing in Ayodhya is possible with a visibility of 550 meters, while in Varanasi, the threshold is set at 900 meters.