Modi Unveils $1.3 Billion Projects In Disputed Temple City

Prime Minister Modi inaugurated new airport, railway station
Modi says he’s committed to preserving Ayodhya’s rich heritage

The Maharshi Valmiki International Airport in Ayodhya on Dec. 29.Photographer: Deepak Gupta/Hindustan Times/Getty Images

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By Swati Gupta and Rakesh Sharma

December 30, 2023 at 4:42 AM UTC

Updated on

December 30, 2023 at 10:27 AM UTC

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated projects totaling 111 billion rupees ($1.3 billion) in the northern riverside town of Ayodhya, ahead of the opening of a long-anticipated and controversial temple in January.

Hundreds braved a winter morning to line up along roads in the city as Modi began a tour in a Toyota sports utility vehicle, waving at crowds that showered him with rose petals and chanted slogans. The projects he unveiled included a new airport and a revamped railway station.