VIP flight arrangements: 12 airports across 5 states set for strategic parking ahead of grand Ram Temple consecration in Ayodhya
VIP flight arrangements: 12 airports across 5 states set for strategic parking ahead of grand Ram Temple consecration in Ayodhya (Representational Image )
Preparations are on, by the Civil Aviation Ministry for the systematic parking of chartered aircraft transporting VIP guests to Ayodhya for the Ram temple’s consecration on January 22.
Varanasi airport is bustling with activity as it has already secured parking for 30 flights scheduled between Jan 21 and 23, airport director Puneet Gupta said.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has identified 12 airports across five states for parking private and chartered jets, addressing the challenge posed by limited parking spaces at the recently inaugurated Maharishi Valmiki International Ayodhya Airport.
One slot at Ayodhya airport will be exclusively reserved for PM Modi’s aircraft, India One. The strategic coordination involves a network of airports within a 1,000km range to share parking spaces for jets after dropping dignitaries in Ayodhya.
“There won’t be any other plane at Ayodhya airport once India One lands. Therefore, a dozen airports within a 1,000km range have been asked to share parking spaces where jets can have a night halt after dropping dignitaries in Ayodhya,” an AAI source said.
Ayodhya’s airport is well-equipped for all-weather landings, including night landings. Varanasi airport, which can handle 12 non-scheduled flights simultaneously, has already secured parking for 30 flights scheduled between January 21 and 23.
The proposed alternatives for parking include Khajuraho, Jabalpur, Bhopal, Dehradun, Lucknow, Prayagraj, Kanpur, Varanasi, Kushinagar, Gorakhpur, Gaya, and Deoghar.
AAI has received requests for the landing of 48 chartered planes in Ayodhya on January 22. Anticipated arrivals include ultra-luxurious private jets such as the 10-seater Dassault Falcon 2000, Embraer 135 LR & Legacy 650, Cessna, and Beechcraft.
Helicopters are also expected to participate, and efforts are being made to accommodate them locally. In case of overflow, arrangements may direct them to Lucknow and Gorakhpur.
Airport officials are navigating logistical intricacies, including the ongoing fog spell, with Ayodhya viable for landing at 550m visibility, while Varanasi requires 900m visibility.
