As Bihar heads for legislative meeting elections, the important thing difficulty ofaviation infrastructure growth has taken centrestage within the State’s political circles.
Accordingly, each the Central and State governments are accelerating the event of key airport initiatives earlier than the elections, that are scheduled for October–November.
Bihar’s airport growth plans have been additionally featured within the Price range FY26.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman within the Price range proposed to facilitate the event of greenfield airports in Bihar. “These can be along with the growth of the capability of Patna airport and a brownfield airport at Bihar,” she mentioned.
The huge push for airport infrastructure is predicted to play a vital function within the political narratives, mentioned an trade insider, including that events attempt to showcase growth as a significant achievement to woo voters.
Improvement plans
Lately, the Nitish Kumar-led State authorities introduced plans to develop 15 airports. At current, Bihar has three operational airports. The transfer is alleged to reinforce air connectivity and increase regional financial development.
Even the Central authorities, by way of its regional air connectivity Udan scheme, plans to put the groundwork for airports at Valmikinagar, Birpur, Madhubani, Munger, Saharsa, and Muzaffarpur.
On its half, the State-run Airport Authority of India (AAI) plans to inaugurate a brand new terminal constructing at Patna’s Jay Prakash Narayan Worldwide Airport by June. The brand new terminal constructing will improve passenger dealing with capability from 2.5 million to 10 million yearly. The airport growth is predicted to allow direct worldwide flights from Patna, providing higher comfort for travellers.
“The final word dream of flyers is to get direct connectivity. This sense was aptly summarised by an aviation trade veteran someday again in a phrase: “Direct from Patna to Paris” would possibly finally come true,” an trade insider advised businessline.
Aside from a brand new terminal constructing, efforts are being made to decongest Patna airport by creating a second such infrastructure facility at Bihta, positioned round 25 kilometres from Patna.
As per the trade, AAI has began work on a civil enclave on the Bihta Air Pressure Station, and business operations are anticipated to start by 2026. When it comes to different key initiatives, theoperations at Purnia airport might begin by the mid-to-later a part of this yr. Moreover, an growth of Darbhanga airport has been deliberate to deliver the infrastructure facility to a global stage.
The Centre has additionally given inexperienced mild for brand new greenfield airports at Rajgir and a brownfield one in Raxaul, together with feasibility research which can be underway for a brand new aero facility at Bhagalpur.
Printed on April 30, 2025
