The seamless and secure consecration of Ram Lalla owes much to the strategic vision of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, transforming Ayodhya into an impregnable fortress for the historic event. The city’s security, orchestrated under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s watchful eyes, showcased meticulous planning and execution, making it a testament to Yogi’s commitment to maintaining law and order.
In a bold declaration, Yogi emphasised the remarkable transformation, saying, “Ayodhya mein pahle goli chalti thi, par ab solar boat chalti hai,” highlighting the paradigm shift in the law and order situation under his administration.
Commandos, armed with machine guns and AK-47s, stood vigilant throughout the city, overseeing security measures, while an extensive network of CCTV cameras and helicopters enhanced surveillance. Ayodhya’s borders were sealed, permitting access only to those with invitations for the praan pratisthaa and necessary passes. Commandos and vehicles with blaring sirens patrolled the roads, maintaining strict control over the city as the consecration programme unfolded at the Ram Temple. Simultaneously, Ayodhya witnessed the landing of 60 chartered planes carrying VVIP guests at the new airport.
After disembarkation, these planes were strategically parked within a 1000-kilometre range at airports across five States. To address the limited parking capacity in Ayodhya, reserved spaces were allocated at 12 airports in UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
From a security standpoint, Ayodhya was divided into 10 zones and 26 sectors, with the Ram Mandir, Hanuman Garhi, and Saryu Ghat collectively forming the Super Zone. This Super Zone implemented heightened security protocols, incorporating stringent measures such as crash-rated bollards, under-vehicle scanners, tire killers, and boom barriers to prevent any suspicious items from reaching the Ram temple.
Special teams, including STF and ATS commandos, were strategically deployed to manage and oversee these security devices. Recognising that visitors to Ayodhya often extended their visits to Saryu Ghat and Hanumangarhi, both areas were included in the Super Zone, fortified by a 7-layer security setup.
Aerial surveillance, conducted using helicopters, closely monitored the temple premises, with strict restrictions imposed on drones, airplanes, or choppers passing over the temple.
The Maharishi Valmiki International Airport’s security was entrusted to the NSG and CISF, ensuring a comprehensive security apparatus. Thorough verification of houses along the routes used by Prime Minister Modi and other VVIP guests was completed, with security personnel stationed on all rooftops.
The magnitude of security measures was reflected in the temporary suspension of train services to and from Ayodhya. Railway administration diverted or canceled all trains bound for Ayodhya, citing construction on the platforms. Additionally, UP Roadways buses scheduled to halt in Ayodhya underwent stringent security checks, underscoring the meticulous planning and execution of safety measures under the astute leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
