As Bihar addresses the elections of the Legislative Assembly, the key issue of aviation infrastructure development has tasks on the central stage in the political circles of the State.
Consequently, central and state governments are accelerating the development of key projects from the airport before the elections, which are scheduled for October to November.
The development plans of the Bihar Airport also presented themselves in the budget for fiscal year 2016.
The Minister of Finance, Nirmala Sitharaman, in the budget, proposes to facilitate the development of Greenfield airports in Bihar. “These will be additional to the expansion of Patna airport capacity and a Brownfield airport in Bihar,” he said.
The massive impulse for airport infrastructure is expected to play a crucial role in political narratives, a source of the industry said, added that the parties try to show development as a great achievement to attract voters.
Development plans
Recently, the state government led by NITIH KUMAR announced plans to develop 15 airports. At present, Bihar has three operating airports. It is said that the measure improves air connectivity and increases regional economic growth.
Even the central government, through its regional air connectivity Udan scheme, plans to lay the bases for airports in Valmikinagar, Birpur, Madhubani, Muger, Saharsa and Muzaffarpur.
For its part, the Airport of India (AAI) authority administered by the State plans to open a new terminal building at Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport in June. The new terminal building will increase passenger management capacity from 2.5 million to 10 million annually. The expansion of the airport is expected to allow direct international flights from Patna, offering greater comfort for travelers.
“Flyers’s last dream is to obtain direct connectivity. This feeling was correctly summarized by a veteran of the aviation industry at some point back in a phrase:” directly from Patna to Paris “could come true,” said privileged information from the industry Business line.
Separate from a new terminal building, efforts will be made to decongest the Patna airport by developing a second of this type of infrastructure installation in Bihta, located about 25 kilometers from Patna.
According to the industry, AAI Haas began working in a civil enclave at the Bihta Air Force station, and commercial operations are expected to begin by 2026. In terms of other key projects, operations at the Prenia airport can start late this year. In addition, an expansion of Darbhanga airport has been planned to carry infrastructure installation to an international level.
The center has also given green light for new Greenfield airports in Rajgir and one from Brownfield in Raxaul, along with feasibility studies that are underway for a new aerodynamic installation in Bhagalpur.
Posted on April 30, 2025
