Kushinagar, October 20: Kushinagar, the Mahaparinirvana site of Tathagata Lord Buddha, on Wednesday moved towards touching a new sky of development with international flight service. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the state’s third international airport built here due to the continuous efforts of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that the government has laid more emphasis on air connectivity of those areas where people had not even thought about it. It is the endeavour of the government that in the coming three-four years, more than 200 airports, heliports and water ports for seaplanes should also be ready inside the country.
Addressing a function organized in the airport premises after the launch of the Kushinagar International Airport by pressing the button, the Prime Minister said that under the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme, over 900 air routes have been approved and 350 of them have air routes. The service has also started. Also, more than 50 airports have become operational. Its effect is also visible in the general public. More middle class people have started taking advantage of air service.
The Prime Minister said that the aviation sector should be run professionally, convenience and safety should be given priority, and work is being done continuously on this. Recently the country has taken a big step related to Air India. This will give new energy to the aviation sector of the country. One such reform has also been raised for the
civil use of defence airspace. This has saved distance and time on many routes.
The PM said that the process of setting up eight new flying academies at five airports has also been started to train the youth in the aviation sector.
The PM said that with the construction of an international airport at Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh, work is going on at a brisk pace on the Jewar (Noida) International Airport. Airport work is also going on in Ayodhya, Azamgarh, Aligarh, Chitrakoot, Moradabad, Shravasti.
The Prime Minister said that in a few weeks, SpiceJet’s direct flight service from Delhi to Kushinagar will start. This will provide a lot of convenience to domestic travellers and devotees.
Drone policy is going to change lives in every field
Modi said that our drone policy made recently is going to change lives from agriculture to health, from disaster management to defence. From the manufacturing of Drone to the Flying Trend Manpower, an eco-system is being developed.
In this sequence, while talking about PM Gatishakti, he said that with the launch of this master plan, governance will not only improve, it will also be ensured that the infrastructure related to road, rail and air will support each other.
The PM said that 1000 new aircraft have been estimated to be added to the civil aviation sector. In the elixir of independence, the aviation sector will become a symbol of the progress of the nation and the energy of Uttar Pradesh will also be included in it.
India is the center of faith and inspiration of Buddhist society around the world.
Prime Minister Modi said that India is the center of faith and inspiration of Buddhist societies across the world. This facility of Kushinagar International Airport is a tribute to his faith. From the knowledge of Lord Buddha to the witness of his Mahaparinirvana, this area is now directly connected with the world.
The Prime Minister said that the landing of Sri Lankan flight here is like paying homage to this holy land. Today, Kushinagar is proudly welcoming the highly revered federation and other great personalities.
The Prime Minister said that it is also a happy coincidence that today is also the birth anniversary of Maharishi Valmiki. With his inspiration, the country is developing everyone by taking everyone along, with everyone’s efforts.
Double pleasure from Kushinagar International Airport
Modi said that the Kushinagar International Airport is the result of decades of hopes and expectations. I am doubly happy to be here today. As a seeker of the spiritual journey, there is a sense of satisfaction in the mind, then as a representative of the Purvanchal region, this commitment is the time to be fulfilled.
Development of Kushinagar is the priority of the central and state government
The Prime Minister said that the development of Kushinagar is among the priorities of the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government. Due to the presence of International Airport, this area is going to become the center of reverence and attraction not only of India but also of Sri Lanka, Thailand, Cambodia, Japan, Korea, Laos, and Singapore etc.
He said that special attention is being given by the government to develop the places associated with Lord Buddha and to connect them with better connectivity. Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, is not far from here. Kapilvastu is very near. Sarnath, where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon, is also 200 km away. Bodh Gaya, where Tathagata attained knowledge, is also a few hours away. Being an international airport, Kushinagar, the place of Mahaparinirvana of Lord Buddha, has been connected to every corner of the country.
Eco system of holistic development will be developed from Kushinagar International Airport
Kushinagar International Airport will not become just a medium of air connectivity. Rather, farmers, livestock farmers, shopkeepers, workers, entrepreneurs will all get direct benefits from it. Through this trade, business, enterprise eco system will develop. The tourism sector will benefit the most. This will provide new employment opportunities to travel, taxi drivers, restaurants, and small business people.
Modern infrastructure is very important in every form of tourism.
Referring to tourism development in his address, the Prime Minister said that any form of tourism, modern infrastructure is very important for its development. Along with better connectivity of railways, roadways, airways, waterways, hotels, internet, cleanliness, eco-friendly energy etc. all play an important role in promoting tourism.
He said that the 21st century India is moving ahead with this thinking.
New aspect of tourism associated with India as a Vaccinated Country
Pointing to the inevitability of covid vaccination in the field of tourism in the present times, PM Modi said that a new aspect of tourism has also been added to India as a vaccinated country. India’s progress in vaccination will inspire the world and tourists will be inspired to visit this vaccinated country.
Modi has realized the vision of Buddhist circuit: Yogi
Welcoming the Prime Minister at the inauguration ceremony of the airport, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that it is the good fortune of Uttar Pradesh that Uttar Pradesh has the largest number of places associated with Lord Buddha. Kapilvastu, the capital of Lord Buddha, Sarnath, the center of enlightenment, where he spent Chaturmas, Shravasti, where he heard the story, Kaushambi, Sankisa and his Mahaparinirvana site, Kushinagar. All these are in this region.
Expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the development of these sites, the Chief Minister said that the Prime Minister has realized the vision of the Buddhist circuit.
Yogi said that Kushinagar, being the place of Mahaparinirvana of Lord Buddha, is the center of deep faith and reverence for Buddhist followers all over the world. World humanity is always indebted for the friendship and compassion that Tathagata gave. Taking forward this mantra of India, PM Modi had said in the United Nations, “The countries of the world have given war while India has given Buddha.”
Chief Minister Yogi spoke that the whole of Uttar Pradesh was continuously neglected after independence. The new flight of development starting from Kushinagar will bring a positive change in the lives of five crore people of the region. In this episode of development, along with the road, flight is starting from the air to the country and the world.
Direct air service from airports of UP to 75 places
Yogi said that from 1947 to 2014 only two airports were functional in Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow and Varanasi. The connectivity of Uttar Pradesh was only from 15 to 16 cities. Today Kushinagar has become functional as the 9th airport in the state. There is direct air service from the airports of Uttar Pradesh to 75 major cities.
He said that with regard to the UDAN scheme, it was the intention of the Prime Minister that the person wearing Hawai Chappal should also travel by plane. This has been made possible by the improved air connectivity.
CM Yogi said that work is being done on 11 new airports in the state. The work process of International Airport in Noida and Ayodhya is being taken forward on a war footing. He said that Uttar Pradesh is moving ahead in the field of air connectivity in the country. The International Airport of Kushinagar will be very important for the people of eastern Uttar Pradesh as well as northwestern Bihar and neighboring Nepal. Along with tourism, employment and investment opportunities will also be strengthened through this airport.
On this occasion, the Chief Minister paid homage to Maharishi Valmiki, the author of the epic Ramayana, who brought the story of Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram to the people, on his birth anniversary.
Direct flight from Kushinagar to Delhi from November 26: Jyotiraditya Scindia
Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia announced direct flight service for Delhi-Kushinagar from 26 November at the inauguration ceremony of Kushinagar International Airport.
He told that the service of the flight will be available four in a week. Along with this, flight to Mumbai will also start from here from 18th December. There will also be a direct flight to Kolkata. In this way Kushinagar will be directly connected to the political capital and economic capital of the country.
Scindia said that the work of airport construction in Kushinagar which could not be done in 79 years has been made possible under the leadership of the Prime Minister. The airstrip was built here in 1942 during the Second World War but since then it has been neglected. This international airport, built in about 600 acres at a cost of Rs 260 crore in two years, is setting a record.
17 new airports to be built in UP
Scindia informed that 17 new airports will be built in UP in the coming time and said that in 70 years there were 74 airports in the country whereas in 7 years this number has increased to 128 from 54 newly built airports. This is a sign that if PM Modi is there then it is possible. Referring to the life history of Lord Buddha, the Union Civil Aviation Minister said that Kushinagar International Airport is going to connect eight major Buddhist sites of the country and become a medium for fulfilling the spiritual purpose of Buddhist followers of the country and the world.
