Ayodhya Railway Station Renamed Ayodhya Dham Junction: Preparations in Full Swing for Ram Mandir Inauguration

Ahead of the inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, the city’s Ayodhya Junction railway station has been renamed Ayodhya Dham Junction, announced Ayodhya’s Member of Parliament Lallu Singh on social media on Wednesday.

The Indian Railway Conference Association released a statement announcing the alteration of the railway station’s name from “Ayodhya Junction” to “Ayodhya Dham.The name of redeveloped railway station in Ayodhya has been changed to “Ayodhya Dham” ahead of the Ram Lalla pran pratishtha (consecration) ceremony on January 22 in the Uttar Pradesh’s city, as announced by the Indian Railway Conference Association in a statement released on Wednesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate this railway station on December 30.

The prime minister will also oversee the preparations done in Ayodhya for the grand inauguration of Ram Mandir on January 22, 2024. The grand railway station will comprise lifts, a tourist information centre, and medical facilities. All types of extensive preparations are being completed.

“The airport and the railway station which have been prepared in the first phase are going to be inaugurated on December 30. According to estimates, after January 22, approximately 50,000-55,000 people will come to Ayodhya daily and the administration is busy preparing for the same,” said Gaurav Dayal, Gaurav Dayal, Commissioner of Ayodhya.

The earlier allotted alphabetical code ‘AY’ has been retained. Accordingly you are requested to adopt the modified name of the station as ‘Ayodhya Dham Jn’ along with its already allotted alphabetical code. The same has been notified to all the concerned authorities under the advice of this office,” the statement said.

Refurbished platforms, new signboards, escalators, and murals of Lord Ram painted on walls–these and many more would be the features of the Ayodhya railway station after the ongoing revamp.

This railway station is said to have as much mythological importance as much as it is modern. It is built like a grand temple from the outside and is equipped with equally modern facilities from the inside.

Ready with world-class facilities’

The initial phase of the Ayodhya railway station, boasting “world-class facilities,” has been completed within a budget of ₹240 crore after commencing construction in November 2018.

Spanning across 10,000 square meters, the station encompasses three platforms and has been overseen by Rail India Technical and Economics Service (RITES), an arm of the central government.

In addition to the primary structure, the station offers parking space, accommodations for staff, and features such as lifts, escalators, an air-conditioned waiting lounge, a food plaza, and separate dormitories for both men and women.

The station’s main building, resembling the Ram Mandir, showcases two shikhars (steeples) and four pyramid-like structures. The building’s construction utilizes pink Bansi Paharpur stone sourced from Rajasthan, similar to the material used in the Ram Mandir’s construction.

The upcoming second phase of construction is allocated a budget of ₹480 crore for development.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also likely to inaugurate the Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram International Airport in Ayodhya on December 30.