Big day for Ayodhya! Temple town all decked up; Modi inaugurates redeveloped railway station, Maharshi Valmiki airport, flags off six Vande Bharat trains and many more – DETAILED report PM Modi Ayodhya visit: Modi’s vision is to enhance Ayodhya’s infrastructure, connectivity and civic facilities, harmonising with the city’s rich history and heritage. The newly inaugurated features encompass a new airport, redeveloped railway station, widened and beautified roads, and additional civic infrastructure in Ayodhya. Foundation stones for various projects will contribute to the beautification and improvement of civic amenities in and around Ayodhya. First, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the revamped Ayodhya Railway Station and launched two new Amrit Bharat and six Vande Bharat trains, along with dedicating several other railway projects to the nation. Next, Modi inaugurated the newly constructed Ayodhya Airport. After that, Modi also inaugurated, dedicate to the nation, and lay the foundation stone for multiple development projects exceeding Rs 15,700 crore in Uttar Pradesh. This includes approximately Rs 11,100 crore for Ayodhya’s development and surrounding areas, and about Rs 4,600 crore for various projects across Uttar Pradesh. The state-of-the-art airport’s Phase 1, developed at a cost of over Rs 1,450 crore, features a terminal building covering 6,500 sqm and capable of serving approximately 10 lakh passengers annually. The terminal’s facade mirrors the architecture of the upcoming Shri Ram Mandir, while the interiors showcase local art depicting the life of Bhagwan Shri Ram. Sustainability features include insulated roofing, LED lighting, rainwater harvesting, landscaping with fountains, water and sewage treatment plants, a solar power plant, contributing to a GRIHA 5-star rating. Phase I of the redeveloped Ayodhya Railway Station, known as Ayodhya Dham Junction Railway Station, costing over Rs 240 crore, is equipped with modern features, such as lifts, escalators, food plazas, shops, cloakrooms, child care rooms, waiting halls, and is ‘accessible for all,’ certified as a green station building by IGBC. The program at Ayodhya Dham Junction Railway Station includes the flagging off of the Amrit Bharat Express, a new category of superfast passenger trains, and six new Vande Bharat Trains. Additionally, the Prime Minister will dedicate three railway projects worth Rs 2,300 crore to strengthen rail infrastructure in the region. To enhance accessibility to the upcoming Shri Ram Mandir, the Prime Minister will inaugurate four redeveloped, widened, and beautified roads in Ayodhya—Rampath, Bhaktipath, Dharampath, and Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Path. Several other projects will strengthen civic infrastructure and beautify public spaces in and around Ayodhya. The Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for projects contributing to the revamp of civic facilities and the preservation of cultural heritage in Ayodhya. The public program will witness the inauguration and dedication to the nation of several significant projects across Uttar Pradesh, encompassing road widening, sewage treatment plants, LPG plant capacity increase, and other infrastructure initiatives.
The launched works involve rehabilitating the Galgamuwa Railway Station and upgrading the railway line from Maho to Anuradhapura, including additional tasks. Another project is the second phase of track rehabilitation from Maho to Omanthai (128 kms), funded by a $318 million Indian Line of Credit.
Transport Minister Gunawardena praised the efforts of Indian company IRCON in Sri Lanka and called for more cooperation in the railway sector. State Minister Shantha Bandara and officials from the Sri Lankan Ministry of Transport attended the event.
Railways is a priority for Indian assistance in Sri Lanka, with over $1 billion invested under five Indian Lines of Credit. IRCON has been involved in Sri Lanks since 2009. It has contributed to the modernisation of Sri Lanka Railways by reconstructing the entire railway line network in the Northern Province (253 Km) and upgradation of the Southern line (115 km), as well as improving safety through advanced signalling and telecommunication systems.
Despite Sri Lanka’s debt standstill in April 2022, India’s support under various Lines of Credit has continued.
(With PTI inputs)