Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu inaugurated passenger-centric and cultural facilities at Birsa Munda Airport, Ranchi, in the presence of Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth. The installations include the Bhagwan Birsa Munda feature wall with a statue, the UDAN Yatri Café, an AVSAR counter, a Kids Zone and a Flybrary. The feature wall and statue were presented as a tribute to Bhagwan Birsa Munda and as a means to reflect Jharkhand's cultural heritage.

The minister said airports should represent the identity and spirit of their states and highlighted national aviation growth since 2014, with airports increasing from 74 to 165. He added that in Jharkhand, annual passenger traffic has risen more than fivefold, aircraft movements have increased over three times, and air cargo has grown nearly threefold. Under the Modified UDAN scheme, he announced plans for 100 new airports and 200 heliports nationwide and said regional connectivity services have begun at Jamshedpur, while Dumka, Hazaribagh, Daltonganj, Dhalbhumgarh and Chaibasa are planned for development.

He noted that annual passengers at Ranchi have risen from 1.7 million (mn) to over 2.7 million (mn) in five years and outlined a terminal reconfiguration to meet future demand. The Domestic Security Hold Area is proposed to expand to 6,480 sqm, increasing peak hour handling to 2,160 passengers. Plans also envisage a parallel taxi track, a rapid exit taxiway and two additional parking aprons to boost runway efficiency and operational capacity.

He said the UDAN Yatri Café will offer affordable food while the Flybrary seeks to promote reading and enhance travel experiences. The AVSAR outlet will provide a platform for local and tribal artisans to showcase traditional art forms such as Sohrai painting under a vocal for local objective. A Kids Zone has been created to offer a safe recreational space, and the Airports Authority of India continues to transform airports into integrated travel hubs that balance operational performance with passenger comfort and regional identity.