During the initial period, especially on January 22 and the following weeks when visitor numbers are anticipated to be high, both the forces will continue to work jointly to safeguard the complex. Presently, the SSF of the Uttar Pradesh Police has already joined forces with the CRPF to secure the temple complex
In preparation for the upcoming consecration ceremony of the idol at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has taken over security at the Maharishi Valmiki International Airport in Ayodhya. The recently inaugurated international airport, opened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 30, is expected to witness a surge in travellers once the new temple complex opens to the public on January 23.
Leading up to the event, security details at the temple complex reveal that, until January 22, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) will jointly guard the complex alongside Uttar Pradesh’s Special Security Force (SSF). Although there were unconfirmed reports suggesting a handover of security from CRPF to SSF, officials state that no such order has been issued to remove the CRPF.
During the initial period, especially on January 22 and the following weeks when visitor numbers are anticipated to be high, both forces will continue to work jointly to safeguard the complex. Presently, the SSF of the Uttar Pradesh Police has already joined forces with the CRPF to secure the temple complex.
Unless specific orders are issued by the Centre to replace CRPF in the security arrangement, the current pattern is expected to resemble the security setup at the Parliament. CRPF personnel will handle peripheral security, while the SSF will manage access control, visitor checks, and overall visitor management. The CRPF currently deploys one battalion, comprising approximately 1100 personnel, to guard the Ram Temple, with an additional team prepared to handle any unforeseen incidents.
In the lead-up to the consecration ceremony on January 22, both forces are conducting mock trials inside the temple complex, focusing particularly on areas with anticipated high footfall. The SSF, established in 2020 following the CISF model, secures vital installations in Uttar Pradesh and received training from paramilitary forces.
Simultaneously, the Ayodhya airport, now under the CISF’s jurisdiction, will have around 300 CRPF personnel deployed around the clock. In its initial phase, the airport is expected to serve approximately one million passengers annually, with plans to increase to six million in the second phase. The CISF personnel at the airport will be led by an officer of deputy commandant rank. Currently, the CISF is responsible for security at 68 airports across the country.