The Union Home Ministry has approved a CISF anti-terrorist cover of over 150 personnel for the Ayodhya airport, days before the high-profile consecration ceremony at the Ram Temple on January 22, official sources said on Tuesday.
The ‘Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, Ayodhyadham’ has become the country’s 68th civilian airport terminal under the umbrella of the Central Force’s Specialized Aviation Security Group (ASG).
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) will provide anti-terrorist and anti-sabotage cover to the Ayodhya airport that was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in December 2023, official sources said.
Police will search passengers and their luggage and secure the area surrounding the facility, as is done at other national and international airports, they said.
An armed contingent of over 150 CISF personnel under the command of a deputy commander has been sanctioned by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for securing the Ayodhya airport, which will be expanded in phases over the 821 hectares of land earmarked for it has been punished. , they said.
PTI had reported last year that the new airport in the holy city will be secured by the CISF considering the threat perception to the facility that will serve as an air gateway for pilgrims and visitors.
A survey by central security and intelligence agencies recommended professional security cover for the airport, such as that of the CISF.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia had last year said that the airport’s capacity would be increased gradually.
“In the first phase, the airport will be spread over 60,000 square meters. The capacity will be to handle two to three flights per hour. Work is underway to construct a runway of 2,200 meters long. This means that Boeing 737 and Airbus 319 and 320 will be able to land at this airport. Initially, there will be an airport platform for eight aircraft,” Scindia had told reporters.
He also said that Cabinet approval for the second phase would be sought soon.
“In the second phase, as the Chief Minister (Yogi Adityanath) said, the length of the runway will be increased from 2,200 meters to 3,700 metres. In other words, the length of the runway will be about four kilometers so that International aircraft like Boeing 787 and Boeing 777 can land at Ayodhya,” Scindia said.
The minister added that the second phase of the airport will be 50,000 square meters.
The CISF was tasked with guarding civilian airports in the aftermath of the 1999 hijacking of Indian Airlines Kathmandu-Delhi flight IC-814 to Kandahar in Afghanistan.
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First print: January 9, 2024 | 11:42 PM IST