PM Modi says ‘Kushinagar International Airport is the result of decades of hopes & expectations’

New Delhi:  Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday inaugurated Kushinagar International Airport in Uttar Pradesh.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Kushinagar International Airport is the result of decades of hopes & expectations. My happiness is two-fold today. As curious about the spiritual journey, I’ve a sense of satisfaction. As a representative of Purvanchal area, it is time for the fulfilment of a commitment.

Kushinagar International Airport won’t just be mode of air connectivity. Be it farmers, animal keepers, shopkeepers, workers, local industrialists-it’ll benefit all. It’ll create ecosystem of business. Tourism will get maximum benefit, it’ll generate employment for youth here, he said.

The effort will be to have a network of more than 200 airports, heliports and water dome in the nation in the next 3-4 years, said PM Modi after the inaugration.

Union Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia, Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and other dignitaries were also present at the ceremony. The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister gave its approval for the declaration of Kushinagar Airport in Uttar Pradesh as an International Airport in June 2020.

HIGHLIGHTS

Kushinagar International Airport is the result of decades of hopes & expectations. My happiness is two-fold today. As curious about the spiritual journey, I’ve a sense of satisfaction. As a representative of Purvanchal area, it is time for the fulfilment of a commitment: PM Modi

On the invitation extended by PM during Virtual Bilateral Summit with Sri Lanka in Sept 2020 & as mentioned in joint statement, ‘Mitratva Magga’ released after, inaugural int’l flight arrived from Sri Lanka (at Kushinagar International Airport) to mark the occasion: Sources

Our culture & values are evidence that India has never been an attacker, it never took the path to violence for any nation. PM had once said at UN that while other nations stay prepared for wars, India always walks on path of Gautam Buddh: Civil Aviation Minister in Kushinagar

Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia felicitates PM Narendra Modi in Kushinagar. UP Governor Anandiben Patel, CM Yogi Adityanath and other dignitaries present.

The PM will inaugurate the Kushinagar International Airport shortly. pic.twitter.com/nOwun8XMJm

— ANI (@ANI) October 20, 2021

Kushinagar Airport is located in the vicinity of several Buddhist Cultural Sites like Sravasti, Kapilvastu, Lumbini (Kushinagar itself is a Buddhist cultural site) and declaration as an “International Airport” will offer improved connectivity, wider choice of competitive costs to the air-travellers. It will result in boosting of domestic/international tourism and economic development of the regions.

Kushinagar is located in the north-eastern part of Uttar Pradesh about 50 km east of Gorakhpur and is one of the important Buddhist pilgrimage sites.
The inauguration of the Kushinagar International Airport will be marked by the landing of the inaugural flight at the airport from Colombo, Sri Lanka, carrying a Sri Lankan delegation of over a hundred Buddhist Monks and dignitaries including the 12-member Holy Relic entourage bringing the Holy Buddha Relics for Exposition.

The delegation also comprises of Anunayakas (deputy’s heads) of all four Nikatas (orders) of Buddhism in Sri Lanka i.e Asgiriya, Amarapura, Ramana, Malwatta as well as five ministers of the Government of Sri Lanka led by Cabinet Minister Namal Rajapakshe.

The Kushinagar International Airport has been built at an estimated cost of Rs. 260 crore. It will facilitate domestic and international pilgrims to visit the Mahaparinirvana sthal of Lord Buddha and is an endeavour in connecting the Buddhist pilgrimage holy sites around the world. The airport will serve nearby districts of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar and is an important step in boosting the investment & employment opportunities in the region.