Ranchi: Birsa Munda Airport is set for a major transformation, with plans underway to upgrade it into an international airport with global connectivity, Union civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu announced on Wednesday.Naidu inaugurated several amenities, including a Udan Yatri Cafe, a library, a kids’ zone, and an AVSAR kiosk to support local artisans, and unveiled a statue of tribal leader Birsa Munda at the Birsa Munda airport.“In recent times, Jharkhand has evolved from its earlier identity of ‘land of forests’ to ‘land of opportunities’. The civil aviation ministry, further taking the growth trajectory forward, Ranchi airport will soon be upgraded into an international airport, and the work towards that direction starts today,” the minister said.Work will also start to connect Ranchi airport to all state capitals in the country. “I have been informed that many people from the north-eastern and southern regions of the country visit Ranchi. But there is no direct connectivity to the north-east from Ranchi. The ministry will hold talks with airlines to launch connectivity to the untouched regions from the airport,” he said.“Footfall at the Ranchi airport increased to 27 lakh from 17 lakh in the last five years. To accommodate the increased passenger footfall and upgrade to an international airport, its terminals and parking space for aircraft need to be expanded. The ministry will hold talks with the state govt for land acquisition to execute the planned projects,” he said.Ranchi MP and Union Minister of state of defence Sanjay Seth said that the acquisition of 300 acres of land by the Jharkhand govt is pending, and talks are ongoing to acquire 52 acres of defence land to expand the airport.“I appeal to the Union minister to expedite the acquisition process so that Ranchi airport can be placed as the next big airport after Kolkata in the eastern region. Ranchi also needs air connectivity to Varanasi and Guwahati,” Seth said.Rajya Sabha MP Mahua Maji raised the issue of rising airfares, after the West Asia crisis and appealed to the Union minister to take concern of the matter.BJP Hatia MLA Navin Jaiswal raised the issue of displaced people around the Ranchi airport.
