From getting adorned with flowers, murals, and thematic ornamental columns to putting up giant posters bearing images of the Ram temple, the city has been brimming with a vibrant festive spirit since Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Ayodhya today. Earlier Divisional Commissioner of Ayodhya, Gaurav Dayal, said that preparations were in full swing for the visit and despite dense fog in the city in the last two days, all arrangements are on course.
A slew of projects lined up for unveiling
PM Modi inaugurated Ayodhya's upgraded railway junction and Maharshi Valmiki airport today, emphasizing improved connectivity. He also flagged off two Amrit Bharat Express and six Vande Bharat Express trains. Later, PM Modi is also addressing a public rally near the airport.
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Ahead of the grand consecration ceremony of the newly built Ram Mandir scheduled in the third week of January, PM Modi today will also launch a range of developmental projects worth more than Rs 11,100 crore to revamp civic facilities and develop world-class infrastructure in Ayodhya and projects worth over Rs 4,600 crore for other parts of Uttar Pradesh.
To enhance accessibility to the upcoming Ram temple, he will also inaugurate four newly redeveloped, widened and beautified roads in Ayodhya - Ram Path, Bhakti Path, Dharm Path, and Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Path, the PMO said.
Besides the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Railway Minister Ashwani Vaishnav, Union Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia, local MPs and MLAs and a few party functionaries will be present at PM Modi's rally.
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PM Modi personally visits Ujjwala Yojana beneficiary Meera Majhi's home in Ayodhya, UP, today.
PM Modi has urged the public to refrain from visiting Ayodhya on January 22, emphasizing that only a select few individuals have received invitations and will be in attendance.
PM Modi addresses a gathering following the inauguration and foundation-laying of diverse projects in Ayodhya.
Prime Minister Modi Unveils Ayodhya's New Maharshi Valmiki Airport.
-PM Modi returned to Maharishi Valmiki International Airport for the inauguration of the state-of-the-art aviation facility.
-PM Modi will virtually inaugurate the Katra to Delhi Vande Bharat train
- Six Vande Bharat Express trains flagged off by PM Modi- The six newly inaugurated trains include the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-New Delhi Vande Bharat Express, the Amritsar-Delhi Vande Bharat Express, the Coimbatore-Bangalore Cantt Vande Bharat Express, the Mangalore-Madgaon Vande Bharat Express, the Jalna-Mumbai Vande Bharat Express and the Ayodhya-Anand Vihar Terminal Vande Bharat Express.
- Prime Minister flags off two Amrit Bharat Express from the redeveloped Ayodhya Railway Junction- The two new Amrit Bharat trains were respectively the Darbhanga-Ayodhya-Anand Vihar Terminal Amrit Bharat Express and the Malda Town-Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminus (Bengaluru) Amrit Bharat Express.
-PM Modi unveiled the revamped Ayodhya Railway Junction- After inaugurating the station, the prime minister took a tour of the facility where he was accompanied by UP CM Adityanath, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and others. Modi was briefed by Vaishnaw about the station.
- Roadshow underway in Ayodhya- Ahead of the lined-up inaugural events, PM Modi held his roadshow from the airport to the railway station. The prime minister received a warm welcome in Ayodhya as people were seen showering flower petals on him during the roadshow.
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-PM Modi reaches Ayodhya- Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath received PM Modi at the airport.
- Cultural artists busy with last-minute preparations in Ayodhya ahead of PM Modi's visit
- Security measures beefed up ahead of PM Modi's arrival in Ayodhya
City decked up
A set of imposing sun-themed columns -- 'Surya Stambhs' have been installed along a prominent street in the holy city, which falls on the routes of his VVIP movement. Along this road -- Dharm Path -- near Lata Mangeshkar Chowk, interpretation walls are being set up at regular intervals on both sides, depicting the life of Lord Ram. Huge posters bearing images of the Ram temple, new airport and hailing Ayodhya as city of "Maryada, Dharm and Sanskriti" have been put up in various parts of the city.
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Prime Minister Modi's visit also comes less than a month before the 'pran pratishtha' (consecration) of the upcoming Ram temple. A grand Ram temple is currently under construction in Ayodhya, with the consecration ceremony to be held on January 22, which will be attended by the prime minister.
Preparations in full-swing
Expecting heavy footfall owing to the chain of programmes scheduled to take place in the city, the administration on Thursday begun work on putting up temporary wooden barricades on both sides of the recently redeveloped Ram Path, and other roads that will fall on his route on the way to the railway station from the airport.
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As a pre-emptive measure to deal with any medical emergency, 20 beds in a ward in the old building of the Sri Ram Hospital and five ICU beds in the new building have been reserved. A 'Reserved Ward' sign was put up in the ward that lay empty on Friday morning. Patients have been shifted to other wards, the nurse on duty said.
