PM Modi to flag off trains in Ayodhya, inaugurate projects worth over Rs 11,100 crore on Dec 30, 2023 ::::::: Key diplomatic win ? Death sentence of 8 Indian Navy veterans commuted by Qatar court

With less than a month to go before Jan 22, 2024, Ram temple inauguration, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Dec 30, 2023 will launch a slew of projects worth more than Rs 11,100 crore to revamp civic facilities and develop world-class infrastructure in Ayodhya.  

PM to inaugurate Ayodhya Airport; facade of the terminal building to depict the temple architecture of the upcoming Shri Ram Mandir

(Second phase of airport development will include the construction of a new terminal building spanning 50,000 square meters, capable of handling 3,000 passengers during peak hours and 60 lakh passengers annually.) 

Modi will also launch projects worth over Rs 4,600 crore for other parts of Uttar Pradesh. PMO announced that among other projects, PM will launch an airport and a redeveloped railway station at the globally acclaimed temple city and also flag off two new Amrit Bharat and six new Vande Bharat trains, 

The airport in Ayodhya will be named 'Maharishi Valmiki International Airport Ayodhyadham'.

The airport is being named after the legendary poet Valmiki who is celebrated as the author of the epic Ramayana.

A statement said PM's vision is to develop modern, world-class infrastructure in Ayodhya, improve connectivity and revamp its civic facilities, which also conform to the rich history and heritage of the city where God Ram was born.

“In realisation of this vision, a new airport, a new redeveloped railway station, newly redeveloped, widened and beautified roads and other civic infrastructure are being inaugurated in the city. Further, foundation stones for many new projects will be laid that will contribute to the beautification and revamp of civic facilities in and around Ayodhya". 

The first phase of the state-of-the-art airport has been developed at a cost of more than Rs 1,450 crore. Its terminal building will have an area of 6,500 square metres, equipped to serve about 10 lakh passengers annually.

The building’s facade depicts the architecture of the Ram temple while its interiors are decorated with local art, paintings and murals depicting Lord Ram’s life. It is also equipped with various sustainability features, such as an insulated roofing system.

There will be LED lighting, rain-water harvesting, landscaping with fountains, a water treatment plant, a sewage treatment plant, a solar power plant and many other facilities, to meet the five-star GRIHA (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment) ratings, officials said.

The airport will improve connectivity in the region, leading to a boost in tourism, business activities and employment opportunities. The first phase of the redeveloped Ayodhya railway station — named Ayodhya Dham Junction — has been developed at a cost of more than Rs 240 crore. The three-storey modern station building is equipped with all modern features, such as elevators, escalators, food plazas, shops for puja needs, cloak rooms, child-care rooms and waiting halls, the statement added.

Referring to the Amrit Bharat trains, it said the new category of superfast passenger trains have locomotives at both ends for better acceleration. The trains will provide improved facilities for rail passengers, such as beautiful and attractively-designed seats, better luggage racks, mobile charging points with suitable mobile holders, LED lights, CCTV cameras and a public information system.

Modi will also dedicate to the nation three railway projects worth Rs 2,300 crore to strengthen the rail infrastructure in the region.

To enhance accessibility to the upcoming Ram temple, the prime minister will inaugurate four newly-redeveloped, widened and beautified roads in Ayodhya — Rampath, Bhaktipath, Dharampath and Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Path.

God Ram’s idol will be consecrated at the under-construction temple in Ayodhya on January 22.

The programme at Ayodhya Dham Junction Railway Station will witness the Prime Minister flagging off a new category of superfast passenger trains in the country - the Amrit Bharat Express. The Amrit Bharat train is an LHB push pull train with non air-conditioned coaches. This train has locos at both ends for better acceleration. 

It provides improved facilities for rail passengers like beautiful and attractive designed seats, better luggage rack, mobile charging point with suitable mobile holder, LED lights, CCTV, public information system, among others. Prime Minister will also flag off six new Vande Bharat Trains.

Prime Minister will flag off two new Amrit Bharat trains viz Darbhanga-Ayodhya-Anand Vihar Terminal Amrit Bharat Express and Malda Town-Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminus (Bengaluru) Amrit Bharat Express.

Key diplomatic win ? Death sentence of 8 Indian Navy veterans commuted by Qatar court 

India could henceforth explore the option of having the eight former naval officers repatriated and serve their term in Indian prisons under a treaty signed by the two nations. 

In a significant development, the Court of Appeal in Qatar on Thursday, Dec 28, commuted the death sentences of eight former Indian Naval officers allegedly involved in a case of corruption and espionage. 

"We have noted the verdict today of the Court of Appeal of Qatar in the Dahra Global case, in which the sentences have been reduced," an official MEA notification said. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has been actively monitoring the situation, providing support and assistance throughout the process.

The statement comes as a relief to the families of the officers and the Indian community at large, reflecting the continuous efforts of the Indian government to ensure the welfare of its citizens abroad.

"Our Ambassador to Qatar and other officials were present at the Court of Appeal today, along with family members. We have stood by them since the beginning of the matter and we will continue to extend all consular and legal assistance," the MEA statement said highlighting the ongoing support provided to all incarcerated ex-Navy veterans by the government.

The statement also mentioned the sensitivity and confidential nature of the proceedings, stating, "Due to the confidential and sensitive nature of the proceedings of this case, it would not be appropriate to make any further comment at this juncture." 

The commutation of the sentences comes in the wake of the recent meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi held with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani on the sidelines of the COP28 summit in Dubai on Dec 1.

This was the first time Modi met Qatar’s Emir ever since the eight former Indian Navy personnel were handed the death sentence. 

Background : 

The former Indian Navy veterans, working with AlDahra Global Technologies and Consultancy Services, were arrested for their alleged involvement in a case of corruption and espionage. The Indian government has vowed to explore all legal options and continues to engage with Qatari authorities on the matter, ensuring all possible legal and consular assistance. 

On October 26, Qatar's Court of First Instance awarded the death sentence to the eight Indian nationals who were arrested in August 2022. However, neither the Qatari authorities nor New Delhi made the charges against the Indian nationals public.  When the news of the death penalty made global headlines, India described the ruling as "deeply shocking" and vowed to explore all legal options in the case.

"The case is currently in a legal process there. As we mentioned, an appeal has been filed in Qatar's Court of Appeal. We are also engaged with the Qatari authorities on the matter and we will continue to extend all legal and consular assistance (to them)," MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had said at a weekly media briefing.

"I would again urge everyone not to engage in speculation considering the sensitive nature of the case," he had said. 

The eight Indians incarcerated in Qatar are: Captain Navtej Singh Gill, Captain Birendra Kumar Verma, Captain Saurabh Vasisht, Commander Amit Nagpal, Commander Purnendu Tiwari, Commander Sugunakar Pakala, Commander Sanjeev Gupta, and Sailor Ragesh. 

India and Qatar have the 'Treaty on the transfer of sentenced persons between India and Qatar'. 

The treaty, approved by the Union Cabinet on Dec 2, 2014, helps prisoners from both countries to serve their remaining sentences near their families, aiding in their social rehabilitation.

The case has been under intense scrutiny since the arrest of the former officers in August 2022.