RANCHI, May 21 -- Sharing a massive aviation roadmap during his maiden visit to Birsa Munda Airport here on Wednesday, Union civil aviation minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu announced the upcoming launch of the UDAN 2.0 scheme to radically transform India's regional air connectivity. The high-profile official programme commenced at 11 AM with a grand welcome, featuring the minister riding pillion on a motorcycle with Union MoS for Defence Sanjay Seth. Addressing the gathering, Naidu said, "The central government will soon launch the UDAN 2.0 scheme to significantly boost regional air connectivity. Under this ambitious aviation road map, India aims to build 100 new airports and 200 helipads over the next 10 years to connect underserved and remote regions of the country." The minister highlighted that this vision was backed by a Cabinet-approved financial outlay of Rs.28,840 crore spanning from financial year 2026-27 through financial year 2035-36, which would scale up the original regional connectivity network and drive local economic growth. The Ranchi event served as the launchpad for several innovative, passenger-centric amenities designed to enhance the terminal experience in Ranchi. Naidu inaugurated a newly built feature wall and statue dedicated to Bhagwan Birsa Munda. He then launched the 'UDAN Yatri Cafe,' a low-cost transit facility offering tea, coffee, and basic snacks to travellers for just Rs.10, promising to expand this successful subsidised model to all Indian airports. Furthering passenger comfort, the minister opened the 'Flybrary', a unique airport library framework allowing travellers to borrow books and return them at different airports across the country, alongside a new Kids Play Zone and dedicated local 'Avasar' handicraft stalls showcasing products made by women entrepreneurs. Turning the focus to regional infrastructure development, Naidu reviewed a proposed Rs.100-crore expansion plan for Ranchi airport to modernise its facilities and handle its rapidly growing annual traffic. He committed to upgrading Birsa Munda Airport for future international flights and confirmed that the upcoming UDAN network expansion would soon directly link Jharkhand's smaller, remote districts, including Dumka, Hazaribagh, Chaibasa, and Daltonganj. Reflecting on a decade of progress, Naidu noted that India's operational airports had doubled from 74 in 2014 to 165 today under the PM's vision to democratise air travel....