As the Pran Pratistha ceremony for the Ram Mandir nearing on January 22, the Civil Aviation Ministry is taking measures to handle the potential influx of chartered planes ferrying VIPs to Ayodhya. To avoid chaos, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has identified 12 airports across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttarakhand for parking private and chartered jets.
The Maharishi Valmiki International Ayodhya Airport, which has only four parking spaces for single-aisle jets, presents a challenge. One slot is exclusively reserved for Prime Minister Modi's aircraft, India One. After its landing, no other planes will be allowed to park there. To address this, a dozen airports within a 1,000-kilometer range have been requested to share their parking spaces, serving as overnight stops for jets after dropping off dignitaries in Ayodhya. Alternatives include Khajuraho, Jabalpur, Bhopal, Dehradun, Lucknow, Prayagraj, Kanpur, Varanasi, Kushinagar, Gorakhpur, Gaya, and Deoghar.
AAI has received requests to land 48 chartered planes in Ayodhya on January 22, including luxury jets like Dassault Falcon 2000, Embraer 135 LR & Legacy 650, Cessna, Beechcraft Super King Air 200, and Bombardier. Ayodhya's airport is well-equipped for landings in all weather conditions.
Varanasi airport, capable of accommodating 12 non-scheduled flights and 10 larger aircraft simultaneously, has secured parking for 30 flights between January 21 and 23. Helicopters are also expected, and efforts are made to accommodate them locally. Varanasi's potential overflow may be directed to Lucknow and Gorakhpur.
Beyond logistical challenges, airport officials are contending with ongoing foggy weather conditions. Landing in Ayodhya is possible with a visibility of 550 meters, while Varanasi requires a threshold of 900 meters.
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