Ranchi

Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu on Wednesday said India must remain vigilant and prepared to deal with any potential impact arising from the escalating tensions in West Asia, though he maintained that the current situation was not immediately alarming for the country.

Speaking to reporters during his first official visit to Ranchi, Naidu said all sectors, including civil aviation, should formulate proactive strategies to reduce the possible impact of the crisis on citizens and the economy.

“The situation is not worrisome at present, but we need to stay alert. Every sector, including aviation, must prepare short-term, medium-term and long-term plans,” he said.

Addressing concerns over rising airfares amid global uncertainty, the minister said the Centre had already taken several steps to prevent additional financial pressure on passengers. These measures include reducing aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices and lowering airport landing and parking charges to help stabilise ticket fares and support airlines.

He also referred to the recent decision by the Delhi government to slash value-added tax on ATF from 25 per cent to 7 per cent.

Naidu said nearly five lakh passengers travel daily on domestic routes and assured that the government was continuously monitoring airfare trends.

“If demand increases, we will enhance connectivity and deploy additional aircraft,” he added.

At Ranchi airport, the minister unveiled multiple passenger-focused initiatives and announced that the revamped regional connectivity programme, UDAN 2, would soon be launched with an estimated outlay of Rs 29,000 crore.

Under the upgraded scheme, the government plans to establish 100 new airports and 200 helipads over the next decade. Naidu also announced that ‘Udan Yatri Cafes’ would be introduced at airports to provide affordable food options for travellers.

Reiterating the Centre’s commitment to making air travel more affordable and accessible, he said the Union Cabinet had already approved the Modified UDAN scheme for a 10-year period with central financial support.

On the investigation into last year’s Ahmedabad aircraft crash, Naidu said the inquiry was in its final stages and was being carried out in a transparent and accountable manner.

He noted that since passengers from several countries were involved in the incident, the probe had an international dimension and the final report would meet global standards of scrutiny.

The minister further announced that the Centre would prioritise international connectivity for Ranchi’s Birsa Munda Airport while also expanding domestic flight services across Jharkhand.

According to him, passenger traffic at Ranchi airport has increased from 17 lakh annually to 27 lakh within the last five years. He also said districts such as Dumka, Hazaribag, Chaibasa and Daltonganj would soon receive air connectivity.

Naidu remarked that Jharkhand was transforming from a “land of forests” into a “land of future” under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Highlighting the broader economic role of airports, he said aviation infrastructure stimulates trade, tourism, agriculture and cultural exchange, adding that airports are now emerging as key symbols of development and identity for states.

The minister also launched a ‘Flybrary’ initiative at Ranchi airport aimed at encouraging reading habits among passengers, especially children. Under the concept, travellers can borrow books at one airport and return them at another.

Additional facilities inaugurated at the airport included a children’s play zone and the ‘Avasar’ initiative showcasing products created by women entrepreneurs.

Naidu also unveiled a statue of tribal icon Birsa Munda and reviewed plans for the Rs 100-crore expansion of Ranchi airport to strengthen regional and national connectivity.

Emphasising the rapid growth of India’s aviation sector, the minister said the number of airports in the country had risen from 74 in 2014 to 165 at present, while passenger traffic and aircraft numbers had doubled over the last decade.

“This transformation has been possible because of the Prime Minister’s vision of taking people from ‘Hawai Chappal to Hawai Jahaj’,” Naidu said.

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The Union minister received a grand welcome on his arrival in Ranchi and later rode pillion with Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth from the airport.