Waning enthusiasm to visit Ram Mandir as flight, train services to Ayodhya cut

Ayodhya, NT Bureau: Interest in Ayodhya's Ram Mandir has noticeably dwindled, as evidenced by a marked reduction in transportation services to the city over the past six weeks.

Special trains have ceased operations, and interstate bus services to Ayodhya have been scaled back, reflecting a decline in visitor numbers. SpiceJet was the first airline to suspend its direct flights from Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Patna to Ayodhya due to insufficient demand, reported Free Press Journal.

This decision followed just two months after the launch of the service. Initially, SpiceJet had commenced flights from Hyderabad to Ayodhya three times a week starting April 2024, but the service concluded with its last flight on June 1.

Presently, Indigo and Air India continue to maintain flights from Hyderabad to Ayodhya. Employees of these airlines attribute the reduction in flights to declining passenger traffic.

Vinod Kumar, Director of Maharishi Valmiki Airport, acknowledged the cessation of SpiceJet's service to Hyderabad but noted that overall passenger flow remains steady, with approximately 4,000 commuters still traveling through the airport, as reported by FPJ.

He emphasised that airline decisions to start or halt services are contingent upon passenger volumes and expressed optimism that travel to Ayodhya would pick up with cooler weather, said the report. In tandem with the aviation sector, Indian Railways has also ceased operating special Astha trains to Ayodhya, which were introduced post-consecration to facilitate pilgrimages.

Despite this, Ayodhya Dham and Ayodhya Cantt stations continue to receive 32 to 35 trains daily, accommodating roughly 28,000 passengers. Railway officials reported a slight decline in demand since mid-May but affirmed that all trains to Ayodhya remain well patronized.

Bus services from other states to Ayodhya have likewise been reduced, with only a handful of interstate buses currently operational alongside 396 state-run buses within Uttar Pradesh. This reduction contrasts with earlier months when demand was higher.

The influx of devotees into Ayodhya surged following the Pran Pratishtha ceremony on January 22, peaking at 1.5 lakh daily visitors from January to March 2024. However, numbers dwindled to around 1 lakh daily from April to May and have further declined recently to between 60,000 and 80,000 daily.

Anil Mishra, trustee of Ram Janmabhoomi, attributed the recent drop in pilgrim numbers to the intense heat experienced in the region.