The Uttar Pradesh government renamed the airport in 2021 in honor of the Hindu deity Rama, who is thought to have originated in Ayodhya and is the main character of the epic Ramayana. To better reflect the airport's Ramayana-based concept, the name was changed in December 2023 to Maharishi Valmiki, the author of the Ramayana.
The airport's construction started in February 2022, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially opened it on December 30, 2023. The functioning of Flights will begin on January 10, 2024.
100% of the runway has been constructed as of December 31, 2023, and 100% of the terminal has been built.
Structure
The runaway
The runway has features including the Instrument Landing System (ILS), Doppler Very-high frequency Omnidirectional Range (DVOR), and Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) that enable aircraft to land at night.
Terminal
Terminal 1
With a 6,500 square metre footprint, it can carry about 1 million passengers a year and accommodate 300 people during rush hour. It features an apron that can accommodate four aircraft of the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 models. It features car parking areas, a fuel farm, a fuel station, a fire station, an Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower, and other auxiliary facilities. It also includes an approach road from the adjacent highway. As of January 10, 2024, flights are being handled by the terminal and the initial phase of the airport.
Terminal 2
As part of the second stage of the airport's development, Terminal 2 will be its second terminal. Its 30,000 square metre footprint, which can be extended to 50,000 square metres later, will allow it to hold 3,200 passengers at peak hours and more than 5-7 million passengers a year. It will feature eight aerobridges and an apron that can accommodate eight Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 aircraft.
Terminal 3
Part of the third and last stage of the airport's expansion is the third terminal. It will be able to handle more passengers than terminals 1 and 2 and span an area of more than 50,000 sq. m. Along with a larger fire station and utility facilities, it will also have a new Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower that is larger and taller than the one built during the airport's first development phase.
Other facilities
During the initial stage of the airport's construction, the terminal features passenger amenities such as three conveyor belts, nine check-in counters, two passenger lounges, and tactile walkways leading to the apron. There are four car parking spots, a service and utility area, and a four-lane approach road leading to the NH-27 outside the terminal.
Among other ancillary and technical facilities, there will be a fire station, an Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower, a technical building, a fuel farm, three medium-sized hotels, and four upper-scale hotels. To bring the airport up to date with international standards, more facilities will be added in the second and third phases of expansion. As part of the airport's master plan, a medical college will also be built between terminals two and three.
Design and construction
To inform tourists about the spiritual, theological, and historical sway the city of Ayodhya has over Indian society, the airport has been constructed to showcase both the local and state cultures and heritage. The designs, which represent the symbolism of the Ramayana and Mahabharata epics, are etched as murals, artworks, and engraved texts embellished in the Nagara style of temple building. The Ram Mandir has also been symbolically represented by the architectural style. One of the main themes of the façade is the "bow and arrow" mural with images of Rama near the terminal's entrance, along with other artworks.
Constructed from crimson stone, the intricately carved pillars extending from the terminal's entrance offer a superb blend of contemporary facilities and the architecture of an ancient temple. The seven large columns that support the terminal's 65,000 square foot ceiling are meant to represent the seven kandas, or books, in the Ramayana. The terminal features a shikhara on top to represent a temple construction and a rectangular base with carved pillars, just like ancient temples. The airport is environmentally friendly since it generates electricity using clean energy and implements sustainable practices to dispose of waste and conserve water.
