Civil Aviation Minister inaugurates Bhagwan Birsa Munda Statue and Feature Wall at Ranchi Airport

Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu has inaugurated a series of passenger-centric and culturally significant facilities at the Birsa Munda Airport in Ranchi. The event was held in the presence of Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth on May 20.

Among the newly inaugurated facilities include the Bhagwan Birsa Munda Feature Wall with Statue as well as the UDAN Yatri Café, AVSAR Counter, Kids Zone and Flybrary, read a statement.

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Developed as a tribute to Bhagwan Birsa Munda, the feature wall reflects Jharkhand’s rich cultural heritage and historical legacy, besides offering passengers an immersive and visually engaging experience upon arrival.

“Today’s (May 20) unveiling of the statue of Dharti Aaba Bhagwan Birsa Munda is an occasion to honour the confluence of tribal pride and modern development. I firmly believe that our airports should not merely serve as centres of travel, but should reflect the identity, heritage and spirit of the states they represent. Every passenger arriving at Ranchi Airport will now be welcomed by the inspiring legacy of Bhagwan Birsa Munda Ji and introduced to the soul of Jharkhand,” Naidu said.

While highlighting aviation growth in Jharkhand, the Union Minister added, “Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India’s civil aviation sector has witnessed transformative growth, with the number of airports increasing from 74 in 2014 to 165 today. In Jharkhand too, this progress has been remarkable. Annual air passenger traffic has grown more than fivefold since 2014, aircraft movements have increased over three times, and air cargo has also recorded nearly threefold growth.”

On future expansion of aviation infrastructure in the state, Naidu said that via Modified UDAN, “100 new airports and 200 heliports will be developed across the country, immensely benefiting tribal regions and aspirational districts.”

“RCS operations have already commenced at Jamshedpur Airport and airports at Dumka, Hazaribagh, Daltonganj, Dhalbhumgarh and Chaibasa are planned to be developed under the UDAN scheme,” he added.

He even highlighted the growing passenger traffic at the Ranchi airport and said that annual passenger numbers have increased from 17 lakh to more than 27 lakh in the last five years. Keeping future demand in view, a comprehensive plan has been prepared for the reconfiguration and expansion of the terminal building.

Under this proposal, the Domestic Security Hold Area will be expanded to 6,480 sqm, increasing peak-hour passenger handling capacity to 2,160 passengers, the statement added.

Moreover, he said that plans were underway for the development of a Parallel Taxi Track, Rapid Exit Taxiway as well as two additional aircraft parking aprons to improve runway efficiency and operational capacity. “We are committed to connecting Ranchi with global destinations and creating new economic opportunities for Jharkhand,” he said.

On the ‘Ease of Flying’ vision around inauguration of passenger-centric facilities, Naidu said that the UDAN Yatri Café will provide affordable food and beverages to passengers, making airports more inclusive, while the Flybrary initiative seeks to promote reading culture and create more meaningful travel experiences.

Further, the AVSAR outlet (Airports as Venues for Skilled Artisans of the Region) promotes Prime Minister Modi’s vision of ‘Vocal for Local’. This will provide a platform for local and tribal artisans of Jharkhand to showcase traditional art forms such as Sohrai paintings that are witnessing growing global demand.

“The objective of the Modi Government is not merely to build airports, but to make air travel more accessible, affordable and people-centric,” he said.

Besides this, a specially designed Kids Zone has come up within the airport premises to offer a safe and engaging recreational space for children, making airport journeys more comfortable and enjoyable for families.