U.S. President Barack Obama may include Varanasi in his itinerary during his visit next month as chief guest at the Republic Day parade.
Though officials in Lucknow and Varanasi are still clueless, Acting U.S. Ambassador Kathleen Stephens’ recent visit to the ancient city points to the possibility.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is keen on Mr. Obama visiting his Lok Sabha constituency on January 27, but U.S. authorities have two major concerns: the small size of the Babatpur (Varanasi) airport that would not be able to handle the logistics for Air Force One — the President’s official plane — and the congested topography of the city that has seen terror attacks, government sources said.
With Air Force One, a mammoth Boeing 747-200B being too big for the small airport, Mr. Obama would have to travel as Mr. Modi does to his constituency — take an IAF aircraft to the airport and then use a helicopter to land in the city, sources said.
Though Ms. Stephens had official engagements, including a stop-over at the Dashashwamedh Ghat to attend the Ganga aarti , her trip, just a day after Mr. Modi’s visit on December 25, raised eyebrows in the State.
