Union Minister Rammohan Unveils Major Expansion, Passenger Facilities at Ranchi Airport
Ranchi, May 20 (TNT) : Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu on Wednesday unveiled a series of passenger-centric facilities at Birsa Munda Airport, Ranchi, and announced major infrastructure expansion plans aimed at boosting regional air connectivity and passenger handling capacity in Jharkhand.
Ram Mophan inaugurated the Bhagwan Birsa Munda Feature Wall with Statue, UDAN Yatri Café, AVSAR Counter, Kids Zone and Flybrary at the airport in the presence of Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth.
Highlighting the Centre’s focus on aviation growth in tribal and aspirational regions, Ram Mohan Naidu said Jharkhand had witnessed significant progress in the aviation sector, with annual passenger traffic increasing more than fivefold since 2014, alongside substantial growth in aircraft movements and air cargo operations.
He said Ranchi Airport’s annual passenger traffic had increased from 17 lakh to more than 27 lakh during the last five years.
In view of rising demand, the Centre has prepared a comprehensive plan for expansion and reconfiguration of the terminal building, including expansion of the Domestic Security Hold Area to 6,480 square metres, enhancing peak-hour passenger handling capacity to 2,160 passengers, he said.
He also announced plans for the development of a parallel taxi track, rapid exit taxiway and two additional aircraft parking aprons to improve operational efficiency and runway capacity.
Ram Mohan Naidu said the Centre was committed to connecting Ranchi with more domestic and international destinations and creating new economic opportunities for Jharkhand through aviation-led growth.
Under the Modified UDAN scheme, he said 100 new airports and 200 heliports would be developed across the country, with special emphasis on tribal regions and aspirational districts.
Ram Mohan noted that Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) operations had already commenced at Jamshedpur Airport, while airports at Dumka, Hazaribagh, Daltonganj, Dhalbhumgarh and Chaibasa were planned for development under the scheme.
He said the newly launched UDAN Yatri Café would provide affordable food and beverages for passengers, while the Flybrary initiative was intended to encourage reading culture and improve travel experiences.
As part of the “Vocal for Local” initiative, an AVSAR outlet (Airports as Venues for Skilled Artisans of the Region) was also launched to promote local and tribal artisans of Jharkhand and provide a platform for traditional art forms such as Sohrai paintings.
The Bhagwan Birsa Munda Feature Wall and statue were unveiled as a tribute to tribal icon Bhagwan Birsa Munda and designed to reflect Jharkhand’s cultural heritage and identity for arriving passengers.
A specially designed Kids Zone was also inaugurated to provide a safe and engaging recreational space for children travelling through the airport.
TNT KM
