The Rs 1,200-crore new terminal at Jayprakash Narayan International Airport in Patna is set to be launched on Thursday. The occasion will also mark the laying of the foundation stone for the new civil enclave at Bihta Airport, the city's second commercial airport, worth over Rs 1,410 crore.
Both these projects will be launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of the Bihar assembly elections scheduled later this year.
The new terminal building at Patna, spanning 65,155 square metres, is designed to handle up to 4,500 passengers during peak hours, an upgrade from the current 1,300. The expansion will also boost the airport's annual passenger capacity from 25 lakh to 1 crore.
The new terminal building will be equipped with cutting-edge facilities, including 64 modern check-in counters, eight in-line X-ray baggage inspection systems and five aerobridges. It will be directly linked to the multi-level car park, which accommodates 750 vehicles at peak hours. The ground floor will serve arriving passengers, while the upper level is dedicated for departures.
Bihta Airport
The upcoming Bihta airport will serve the rapidly growing educational town near Patna, home to IIT Patna and the proposed NIT campus. This airport will also address the expected capacity saturation at Patna airport.
Currently, the project is focused on building the passenger terminal and other infrastructure, with operations expected by late 2026 or 2027.
Once operational, the facility will handle 3,000 passengers per hour and 50 lakh annually. In addition to passenger amenities, the terminal will offer VIP lounges, cafeterias, and retail spaces to enhance travel experience. The project includes an apron for 10 parking bays and two link taxiways.
Due to runway length limitations, the Patna airport will keep serving smaller planes, while the new Bihta airport will handle larger aircraft.
Earlier, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in the 2025-26 Budget, proposed to facilitate the development of greenfield airports in Bihar.
At present, Bihar has three operational airports. Recently, the Nitish Kumar-led state government announced plans to develop 15 airports to boost air connectivity in the state.
Additionally, the central government, under its UDAN or regional air connectivity scheme, also plans to develop brownfield airports at Birpur, Valmikinagar, Bhagalpur, Madhubani, Munger, Saharsa, and Muzaffarpur.
Among other key projects, the operations at Purnia airport may commence by the mid to latter part of this year. Further, an upgrade of Darbhanga airport is underway to elevate its facilities to international standards.
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