The redeveloped railway station in Ayodhya has been changed to ‘Ayodhya Dham’ ahead of the Ram temple inauguration ceremony on January 22 in the Uttar Pradesh city.
The Indian Railway Conference Association issued a statement regarding the name change of Ayodhya Railway Station to "Ayodhya Dham" on Wednesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the railway station on December 30.
PM Modi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, along with more than 6,000 people are expected to attend the 'Ram Lalla Pran Pratistha', or the consecration ceremony of the Ram Lalla idol.
According to news agency PTI, the Indian Railway Conference Association released a statement announcing the alteration of the railway station's name from “Ayodhya Junction” to “Ayodhya Dham”. Additionally, the previously assigned alphabetical code remains unchanged, the release further said.
“The earlier allotted alphabetical code ‘AY’ has been retained. Accordingly, you are requested to adopt the modified name of the station as ‘Ayodhya Dham Jn’ along with its already allotted alphabetical code. The same has been notified to all the concerned authorities under the advice of this office,” the statement said.
After commencing construction in November 2018, the initial phase of the Ayodhya railway station has been completed within a budget of ₹240 crore.
The station which boasts of ‘world-class facilities’, spans 10,000 square meters and comprises three platforms. Rail India Technical and Economics Service (RITES), an arm of the central government, has overseen the development.
Apart from the core structure, the station offers amenities such as parking spaces, staff accommodations, lifts, escalators, an air-conditioned waiting lounge, a food plaza, and separate dormitories for both men and women.
The station's main building, resembling the Ram Mandir, features two shikhars (steeples) and four pyramid-like structures. The construction utilises pink Bansi Paharpur stone from Rajasthan, the same material used in the construction of the Ram Mandir.
The upcoming second phase of construction is allocated a budget of ₹480 crore for development.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also likely to inaugurate the Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram International Airport in Ayodhya on December 30.