Parking trouble awaits pvt jets on way to Ayodhya

Private jets flying India’s top politicians, business executives and other celebrities to Ayodhya for the inauguration of the Ram temple later this month face a unique problem: a lack of parking.

- Anu Sharma & Mihir Mishra

Lesser mortals flocking to the city for the much-awaited opening—following legal and political battles that dragged on for decades—have to deal with more mundane matters: airfares and hotel prices that have shot through the roof, that is, if tickets and bookings are available at all.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the temple on 22 January, with about 500,000 people expected to visit the pilgrimage destination for the consecration ceremony. That’s about 10 times Ayodhya’s population of about 56,000, as per the 2011 Census.

About 50 private jets are expected to land at Ayodhya ferrying guests for the grand event. But several of these planes will have to find parking elsewhere due to a lack of space at Ayodhya airport, as well as for security reasons, say executives at private charter companies.

"If you include Lucknow, Gorakhpur and even Kanpur, there would be about 25 parking bays available. So, the planes will land at Ayodhya, passengers will disembark, and then the aircraft will take off to park at one of these other airports," said an executive with a business jet service provider, asking not to be identified.

Business has been robust for these operators, thanks to the temple.