Ayodhya/IBNS: Ahead of the grand opening of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on Jan 22, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Maharishi Valmiki International Airport Ayodhya Dham here on Saturday.

Preparations are in full swing ahead of PM Modi's visit to the city and his day-long programme inaugurating several developmental projects.

Located about 15 km away from the main Ayodhya city, phase 1 of the airport has been developed at a cost of more than Rs 1,450 crore, according to a statement by the PMO.

With a total area of 6,500 sqm, the airport’s terminal building is equipped to serve about 10 lakh passengers annually.

The terminal building has been designed to depict “the architecture of the upcoming Shri Ram Mandir of Ayodhya,” the statement said.

Colourful murals depicting different stages of the epic Ramayana and Lord Ram's life adorn several sections of the airport.

Even the main gateway has been built similarly, carrying a concrete core and cladding of sandstone, bearing stylised carvings.

To facilitate travel, Air India Express Friday announced the commencement of new routes from Ayodhya to two major metros – Bengaluru and Kolkata, starting Jan 17.

The airline will operate direct flights on these routes, significantly boosting connectivity to and from Ayodhya, its third station in Uttar Pradesh.

Air India Express will operate its inaugural flights between Ayodhya and Delhi on Dec 30, alongside the inauguration of the airport.

The first flight on the Bengaluru-Ayodhya route, will depart on Jan 17, 2024, at 08:05, reaching Ayodhya at 10:35.

The return flight will leave Ayodhya at 15:40, arriving in Bengaluru at 18:10.

On the Ayodhya-Kolkata route, the flight will take off from Ayodhya at 11:05, landing in Kolkata at 12:50. The Kolkata – Ayodhya flight will depart from Kolkata at 13:25, touching down in Ayodhya at 15:10.

Speaking about the launch of the new routes, Dr Ankur Garg, Chief Commercial Officer, Air India Express, said “Our dedication to expanding connectivity throughout India remains steadfast, driven by our expanding fleet. The introduction of non-stop services connecting Ayodhya to Delhi, Bengaluru and Kolkata underscores this commitment. As pivotal hubs in our network, Bengaluru and Kolkata will serve as gateways to Ayodhya, providing pilgrims from South India and Eastern India with convenient one-stop itineraries.”

The airline has released the schedule for tri-weekly non-stop flights between Ayodhya, Bengaluru, and Kolkata with bookings available through the airline’s obile app and website airindiaexpress.com and other major booking platforms.