PM Modi launches Kushinagar Intl. Airport, links Buddha circuit

Kushinagar, Oct 20 (UNI) Expressing the gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his role in the development of Buddhist sites, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that PM has realized the vision of the Buddhist circuit and the newly inaugurated airport will bring about positive change to the lives of five crore people of the region.
He was speaking at a function where Prime Minister inaugurated the international airport in Kushinagar. Yogi Adityanath said that from 1947 to 2014 only two airports were functional in Uttar Pradesh, including Lucknow and Varanasi while the connectivity of Uttar Pradesh was confined to around 16 cities. “But, today Kushinagar Airport has become operational as the 9th airport of the state whereas there is direct air service from the airports of Uttar Pradesh to 75 major cities,” Yogi said.
He said that Kushinagar, being the place of Mahaparinirvana of Lord Buddha, in the centre of deep faith and reverence for Buddhist followers all over the world. Humanity will remain indebted to Tathagata for the messages of friendship and compassion that he gave to the world.
CM said, quoting a line from PM Modi’s one of the speeches in UN, “The countries of the world have given war while India has given Buddha.”
With regard to the UDAN scheme, Yogi said: “The honorable prime minister’s purpose behind the scheme was to ensure that even those wearing ‘hawai chappals’ (slippers) could also travel by plane. This has been made possible through improved air connectivity.”
CM Yogi said that work is underway on 11 new airports in the state, adding that it was going on war footing on Jewar International Airport as well as the airport at Ayodhya.
The International Airport of Kushinagar is very important for the people of eastern Uttar Pradesh as well as northwestern Bihar and neighboring Nepal, the CM said.
The Kushinagar International airport has been built at an estimated cost of Rs 260 crore and will facilitate domestic and international pilgrims to visit the Mahaparinirvana sthal of Lord Buddha. The endeavour will connect the Buddhist pilgrimage holy sites around the world and also boost the investment and employment opportunities in the region.
The Union Cabinet gave its approval for the declaration of Kushinagar airport in Uttar Pradesh as an International Airport in June 2020.(Pics courtesy IndiaTV)