PM’s address at the inauguration, dedication and laying of foundation stone of multiple development projects at Ayodhya
Speaker: Narendra Modi
Date: 30 Dec, 2023

Greetings to everyone in Ayodhya! Today, the whole world is eagerly waiting for the historic moment due to take place on January 22 with curiosity. Therefore, the excitement and joy among the residents of Ayodhya are quite natural. I am a worshiper of ever particle of Bharat’s soil and every individual of Bharat, and I am as excited as you are. This enthusiasm, this joy of all of us, was visible on the streets of Ayodhya a little while ago. It felt like the entire city of Ayodhya had descended onto the roads. I express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you for this love and blessing. Join me in saying – Siyavar Ramchandra Ki — Jai! Siyavar Ramchandra Ki — Jai! Siyavar Ramchandra Ki — Jai! Uttar Pradesh’s Governor Anandiben Patel, the popular Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ji, my colleagues in Cabinet, Jyotiraditya ji, Ashwini Vaishnaw ji and VK Singh ji, Deputy Chief Ministers of Uttar Pradesh Keshav Prasad Maurya ji and Brajesh Pathak ji, other ministers of the UP government, all MPs and MLAs, and my family members who have gathered in large numbers! The date of December 30 holds great historical significance in the country. On this very day in 1943, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose hoisted the flag in Andaman and declared Bharat’s independence. On this sacred day, connected to the freedom movement, we are moving forward with the resolve of the ‘Amrit Kaal’ of independence. Today, Ayodhya is infusing new energy into the campaign to accelerate the development of a ‘Viksit Bharat’. Today, the inauguration and dedication of development projects worth more than 15,000 crores of rupees has taken place here. These infrastructure projects will establish modern Ayodhya with pride on the national map again. Amidst global pandemics like Corona, these efforts are the result of the tireless dedication of the people of Ayodhya. I congratulate all the residents of Ayodhya for these projects. My family members, Any country in the world wishing to reach new heights of development has to uphold its heritage. Our heritage gives us inspiration and guides us in the right direction. Therefore, today’s Bharat is moving forward, embracing both the ancient and the modern. There was a time when Ram Lalla was living in a tent in Ayodhya. Besides Ram Lalla, four crore poor people in the country have also got pucca homes. Today, while Bharat is beautifying its pilgrimage sites, on the other hand, our country is also shining in the world of digital technology. Today, along with the reconstruction of Kashi Vishwanath Dham, more than 30,000 panchayat buildings are also being constructed in the country. Today, not only the redevelopment of Kedarnath Dham has been undertaken, but also more than 315 new medical colleges have been set up in the country. Today, not only the construction of Mahakal Mahalok has taken place, but also more than 2 lakh tanks have been built to provide water to every home. On the one hand, we are measuring the depths of the moon, the sun, and the seas, on the other hand, we are bringing back our mythological sculptures in record numbers in Bharat. The mood of today’s Bharat is evident in Ayodhya. Today, there is a celebration of progress here, and in a few days, there will also be a celebration of tradition. Today, the grandeur of development is visible here, and in a few days, the grandeur and divinity of heritage will be visible. This is Bharat. The shared strength of ‘Vikas’ (development) and ‘Virasat’ (heritage) will lead Bharat ahead in the 21st century. My family members, Maharishi Valmiki himself has described in detail what Ayodhya was like in ancient times. He has written: कोसलो नाम मुदितः स्फीतो जनपदो महान्। निविष्ट सरयूतीरे प्रभूत-धन-धान्यवान्।. Valmiki ji tells us that the great Ayodhya was a magnificent city, full of wealth and bliss and at the peak of prosperity. In other words, Ayodhya not only possessed knowledge and detachment but also reached the pinnacle of prosperity. We need to reconnect with the ancient identity of Ayodhya and integrate it with modernity. Friends, In the coming times, Ayodhya will not only be the focal point of development for the Awadh region but also contribute to the progress of the entire state of Uttar Pradesh. After the construction of the grand temple of Lord Rama in Ayodhya, there will be a significant increase in the number of people visiting the city. Keeping this in mind, our government is undertaking development projects worth thousands of crores of rupees in Ayodhya, making it a smart city. Today, Ayodhya is witnessing the widening of roads, the construction of new footpaths, flyovers, and bridges. Efforts are also being made to improve transportation infrastructure to connect Ayodhya with surrounding districts. Friends, Today, I am fortunate to inaugurate the Ayodhya Dham Airport and Ayodhya Dham Railway Station. I am pleased that the Ayodhya Airport has been named after Maharishi Valmiki. Maharishi Valmiki introduced us to Lord Ram’s virtues through the epic Ramayana. Lord Ram had said about Maharishi Valmiki, “तुम त्रिकालदर्शी मुनिनाथा, विस्व बदर जिमि तुमरे हाथा।” i.e., You are the seer of all three periods, and the universe is like a berry in your palm. Naming the Ayodhya Dham Airport after the visionary Maharishi Valmiki will be a blessing for every traveller arriving at this airport. Ramayana written by Maharishi Valmiki is the path of knowledge which connects us to Lord Shri Ram. The Maharishi Valmiki International Airport Dham will link us to the divine and majestic Ram Temple. The newly built airport has the capacity to serve 10 lakh travellers annually. Upon completion of the second phase, the Maharishi Valmiki International Airport will accommodate 60 lakh passengers every year. Currently, the Ayodhya Dham Railway Station serves 10-15 thousand people daily. After the complete development of the station, the Ayodhya Dham Railway Station will be able to cater to 60,000 people every day. Friends, Today, apart from the inauguration of the airport and railway station, various paths and routes have also been inaugurated in Ayodhya. The Ram Path, Bhakti Path, Dharma Path, and Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Path will ensure smooth travel. The parking spaces in Ayodhya were also inaugurated today. With the new medical college, health facilities in the area will see expansion. Efforts are being made by the double engine government to maintain the purity of the Sarayu River, and work has begun to prevent pollution in its waters. The ‘Ram Ki Padi’ area has been given a new look. Development is underway for new ghats along the banks of the Sarayu. Restoration work is being carried out on all ancient wells in the area. Whether it’s the Lata Mangeshkar Chowk or the Ram Katha Sthal, all are contributing to enhancing Ayodhya’s identity. The upcoming township in Ayodhya will make life easier for its residents. These development initiatives will also create new opportunities for employment and self-employment in Ayodhya, benefiting taxi drivers, rickshaw pullers, hotel owners, dhabas, prasad sellers, flower vendors, pooja items sellers, and our small shopkeepers, increasing their income. My family members, Today, the country has taken another significant step towards modernizing the railway with the introduction of a new train series, the Amrit Bharat Express, following the Vande Bharat and Namo Bharat trains. This trinity of Vande Bharat, Namo Bharat and Amrit Bharat trains is set to revolutionize Indian Railways. It is a matter of great joy that the first Amrit Bharat Express is passing through Ayodhya. The Delhi-Darbhanga Amrit Bharat Express will modernize the travel experience for people from Delhi, UP, and Bihar. This will make the journey to the grand Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, where Ram Lalla will be enshrined, more convenient for the people of Bihar. These modern Amrit Bharat Express trains will especially assist our poor families and fellow workers. Goswami Tulsidas has written in the Ram Charit Manas, पर हित सरिस धरम नहीं भाई। पर पीड़ा सम नहिं अधमाई। i.e., there is no greater religion and duty in serving others. Modern Amrit Bharat Express trains are initiated with this sentiment, focusing on serving the poor. Those who often travel long distances for work, with limited income, deserve the benefits of modern amenities and comfortable travel. These trains are designed with the principle that the dignity of a poor person’s life is equally important. Today, fellow citizens from West Bengal and Karnataka have also received their states’ first Amrit Bharat Express trains. I extend my congratulations to these states as well for Amrit Bharat Express trains. My family members, Vande Bharat Express is playing a significant role in connecting development and heritage. The country’s first Vande Bharat Express train started its journey for Kashi. Currently, Vande Bharat Express trains are operational on 34 routes across the country. These trains connect major centres of faith and devotion like Kashi, Vaishno Devi Katra, Ujjain, Pushkar, Tirupati, Shirdi, Amritsar, Madurai, and many more. In this series, today Ayodhya has also received the gift of Vande Bharat Express. The Ayodhya Dham Junction – Anand Vihar Vande Bharat has been inaugurated today. Additionally, new Vande Bharat services have been launched between Katra-Delhi, Amritsar-Delhi, Coimbatore-Bengaluru, Mangaluru-Madgaon and Jalna-Mumbai. Vande Bharat is not just about speed; it embodies modernity and is a source of pride for ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’. In a very short span, Vande Bharat has served more than 1.5 crore passengers, and it has become especially popular among the younger generation. Friends, Our country has held significance for pilgrimage journeys since ancient times, boasting a glorious history. Pilgrimages from Badrinath Vishal to Setubandh Rameshwaram, Gangotri to Gangasagar, Dwarkadheesh to Jagannath Puri, the journey of the 12 Jyotirlingas, the Chardham Yatra, Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, Kavad Yatra, Shakti Peeth Yatra, Pandharpur Yatra—these continue to attract devotees from every corner of India. Tamil Nadu, too, has its share of renowned pilgrimages, such as Shivasthal Pada Yattirai, Murugnukku Kavadi Yattirai, Vaishnava Tirupa-Padi Yattirai, Amman Tiruttal Yattirai. Sabarimala Yatra in Kerala, Sammakka and Sarakka jatara in Medaram in Andhra-Telangana, Nagoba jatara also draw lakhs of devotees. There’s a lesser-known pilgrimage to the abode of Lord Rama and his brothers Bharat, Lakshman and Shatrughan in Kerala. It is known as Nalam Balam Yatra. Apart from these, numerous pilgrimages and circumambulations are ongoing across the country, including the Govardhan Parikrama, Panchakoshi Parikrama, Chaurasi Koshi Parikrama. Each of these journeys strengthens the devotee’s connection and devotion to the divine. Buddhist pilgrimages to places associated with Lord Buddha, such as Lumbini, Kapilavastu, Sarnath, and Kushinagar, are also significant. Rajgir in Bihar hosts a pilgrimage for Buddhist followers. Jains embark on journeys to Pavagadh, Sammed Shikharji, Palitana, and the Kailash pilgrimage. Sikhs undertake pilgrimages to the five Takhts and Guru Dham Yatra. The North East, especially Arunachal Pradesh, witnesses the grand Parashuram Kund Yatra. Devotees gather with unwavering faith for these diverse pilgrimages across the country. Proper arrangements are made for these journeys that have been taking place for centuries. The ongoing construction work in Ayodhya will make the pilgrimage to Ayodhya Dham, the darshan of the Lord Ram, and the entire experience easier for every visiting devotee. Friends, This historic moment has come into all our lives with great fortune. We must take a new resolution for the country and fill ourselves with new energy. For this, I am praying to all 140 crore countrymen from the sacred land of Ayodhya. I am praying from the city of Lord Ram in Ayodhya, joining hands with 140 crore countrymen, that when Lord Ram is consecrated in Ayodhya on January 22, light the divine lamp of Lord Ram in your homes and celebrate Diwali. On the evening of January 22, there should be brightness throughout the country. But along with that, I have one earnest prayer to all my countrymen. Everyone wishes to personally come to Ayodhya on January 22 to witness the event, but you also know that it is not possible for everyone to come. It is very difficult for everyone to reach Ayodhya, and therefore, with folded hands, I pray to all the Ram devotees across the country, especially the Ram devotees of Uttar Pradesh. My request is that you all come to Ayodhya after January 23 as per your convenience. Do not plan to come to Ayodhya on the 22nd. So that Lord Ram is not inconvenienced. We devotees can never do such a thing to trouble Lord Ram. If Lord Ram is coming, then let us wait for a few days, we have waited for 550 years, wait for a few more days. Therefore, from the perspective of security, from the perspective of arrangements, I repeatedly request all of you not to attempt to reach here on January 22. Now the new, grand, divine temple of Lord Ram in Ayodhya is available for darshan for centuries to come. You come in January, February, or in March, or you come after one or two years. The temple is there. And therefore, you should avoid crowding to reach here on January 22 so that the arrangement here, the administrators of the temple, the trust of the temple, who have done such a sacred work with so much hard work day and night for 3-4 years, do not face any problem from our side, and hence I request them again and again not to try to reach here on the 22nd.  Some people have been invited, those people will come, and after the 23rd, it will be much easier for all the countrymen to come. Friends, Today, my earnest request to my brothers and sisters in Ayodhya is that you should be prepared for countless guests from all over the country and the world. People will continuously come to Ayodhya every day, and there will be millions of people coming. They will come at their convenience; some will come in a year, some in two years, some in 10 years, but millions of people will come. And this tradition will continue for eternity. Therefore, the residents of Ayodhya also need to make a resolution. And this resolution is to make the city of Ayodhya the cleanest city in Bharat. The responsibility for Swachh Ayodhya lies with the residents of Ayodhya. And for this, we need to take every step together. Today, I reiterate my request to all the pilgrimage sites and temples in the country. My prayer to the people across the country is that starting a week before January 14, Makar Sankranti, a massive cleanliness campaign should be conducted at all the small and big pilgrimage sites across the country. From January 14 to January 22, we should run a cleanliness campaign in every temple, in every corner of Bharat. Lord Ram belongs to the entire country, and when Lord Ram is coming, none of our temples, none of our pilgrimage sites, and their surroundings should be unclean. Friends, Just a while ago, I had the privilege of another fortunate event in the city of Ayodhya. Today, I am happy to share that I had the opportunity to have tea at the home of the 10th crore beneficiary sister of the Ujjwala Gas Connection scheme. When we started the Ujjwala scheme from Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, on May 1, 2016, no one could have imagined that this scheme would reach such heights of success. This scheme has permanently transformed the lives of millions of families, countless mothers and sisters, liberating them from the shackles of cooking with firewood. Friends, The work of providing gas connections in our country began 60-70 years ago, that is, 6-7 decades ago. However, by 2014, the situation was such that only 14 crore gas connections had been given in 50-55 years. That is, only 14 crore gas connections in five decades, whereas our government has provided 18 crore new gas connections in a decade. And out of these 18 crores, 10 crore gas connections have been provided for free under the Ujjwala scheme. When there is a spirit of serving the poor, when the intentions are noble, then work happens in this manner, and results like these are achieved. Nowadays, some people ask me why Modi’s guarantee has so much strength. Modi’s guarantee holds so much strength because when Modi says something, he dedicates his life to fulfilling it. The trust in Modi’s guarantee exists in the country today because when Modi makes a guarantee, he works day and night to fulfil it. This city of Ayodhya is also a witness to it. Today, I reassure the people of Ayodhya that we will leave no stone unturned in the development of this sacred city. May Lord Ram bless us all, and with this wish, I conclude my speech. I bow to the feet of Lord Ram. Congratulations to everyone on the development initiatives. Join me in saying: Jai Siya Ram! Jai Siya Ram! Jai Siya Ram! Bharat Mata Ki Jai! Bharat Mata Ki Jai! Bharat Mata Ki Jai! Thank you very much.