Ayodhya airport operated around 100 chartered flights on Monday: Officials

Ayodhya airport operated around 100 chartered flights on Monday as many people came to the city to attend the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple.

About 8,000 people were invited for the consecration ceremony.

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the new Ram Lalla idol was consecrated in the Ayodhya temple on Monday.

Captain RK Bali, president of the Business Aircraft Operators Association (BAOA), told PTI that 100 chartered flights to Ayodhya were booked by various individuals and entities for Monday and about 50 of them were business jets.

The group represents business jet operators.

An official of a major private jet operator also said the airport operated around 100 flights on Monday.

Earlier in the day, two officials said at least 100 flight movements, including landings and departures, were expected at the airport.

On Sunday, when many people including corporate heads and prominent personalities arrived in Ayodhya, the number of flights at the airport was around 90, one of the officials said.

Those who attended the consecration ceremony included Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, business tycoons Mukesh Ambani and Lakshmi N Mittal and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar.

While the invitee list contained around 8,000 names, the selected list included 506 A-listers, including prominent politicians, leading industrialists, top film stars, sportspersons, diplomats, judges and high priests.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)