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Bihar’s airport expansion plans moved ahead after Parliamentary Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture chairman Sanjay Kumar Jha met Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu in New Delhi to review aviation infrastructure projects across the state. The discussions focused on runway expansion at Patna, Darbhanga and Gaya airports, development of Darbhanga as an international airport, and improved regional air connectivity under the UDAN scheme. The Centre and Bihar government also reviewed plans for Purnea Airport, regional airstrips and tourism-linked aviation projects. The proposed developments are expected to support passenger traffic growth, tourism and economic activity in Bihar.
Bihar’s airport infrastructure expansion plans are moving forward as the Centre and state government reviewed multiple aviation projects aimed at improving passenger connectivity and regional air travel across the state. Advertisement
Parliamentary Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture chairman Sanjay Kumar Jha recently met Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu along with senior officials from the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Airports Authority of India in New Delhi. The discussions mainly focused on runway expansion at Patna, Darbhanga and Gaya airports, along with regional connectivity projects under the UDAN scheme.
One of the key decisions discussed during the meeting was the proposed runway expansion at Patna Airport. Officials agreed in principle to extend the runway by nearly 300 metres and install a simple approach lighting system to improve operational safety and aircraft handling capacity. For the project, the Bihar government has been asked to provide around 49 acres of land.
Patna Airport has been witnessing continuous growth in passenger traffic over the last few years despite land constraints and limited expansion space. The new terminal building at Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport was inaugurated recently to handle rising passenger movement and reduce congestion at the existing facility.
The meeting also reviewed progress related to Darbhanga Airport, which has emerged as one of the fastest-growing airports in eastern India after commercial flight operations started under the UDAN regional connectivity scheme. The Bihar government has reportedly completed acquisition of nearly 90 acres required for runway expansion and installation of modern lighting systems.
According to officials, the proposed expansion will increase the runway length to around 12,000 feet, or nearly 3,658 metres, allowing the airport to handle larger aircraft operations. Sanjay Kumar Jha stated that the acquired land is likely to be handed over to the Airports Authority of India within the next two weeks.
The Centre and the state government also discussed plans to develop Darbhanga Airport as an international airport. A separate meeting with the Ministry of Defence is expected regarding operational and airspace-related requirements since the airport currently operates from an Indian Air Force station. International connectivity from Darbhanga is expected to benefit passengers from the Mithila region and neighbouring districts who currently depend on airports in other states for overseas travel.
The Civil Aviation Ministry also agreed in principle to runway expansion at Gaya Airport, which is an important aviation hub for Buddhist tourism. Gaya Airport handles international charter and scheduled flights, particularly during the Buddhist pilgrimage season, connecting Bodh Gaya with countries including Thailand, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Myanmar. The Bihar government has been asked to provide additional land for the expansion project.
Apart from the major airports, officials reviewed progress at Purnea Airport under the UDAN scheme. Tenders for construction of a permanent terminal building at the airport are expected to be floated soon. The project is expected to improve connectivity in northeastern Bihar, where demand for regional air travel has been increasing steadily.
The meeting also covered proposals linked to Rajgir and the Buddhist tourism circuit through heliport infrastructure and regional air connectivity services under the revised UDAN scheme. Officials further noted that the preliminary feasibility study for the proposed airport at Sultanganj in Bhagalpur district had shown positive results.
In addition, the Centre and state government reviewed plans to start small aircraft operations from Birpur, Valmiki Nagar, Saharsa and Muzaffarpur airstrips. The tender process for these regional services is expected to begin by June 2026.
Over the past few years, Bihar has increased its focus on aviation infrastructure development amid rising domestic passenger traffic, tourism growth and demand for better regional connectivity. Along with the expansion of existing airports, projects such as the proposed Bihta civil enclave near Patna are also expected to strengthen the state’s long-term aviation network.
Source PTI
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