Major Infrastructure Push for Muzaffarpur Airport with Rs 43 Crore Runway Tender
In a significant development for Bihar's aviation infrastructure, Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary announced that the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has issued a substantial tender worth Rs 43.13 crore for critical airside upgrades at Muzaffarpur airport. This move represents a strategic effort to enhance regional air connectivity and reduce dependency on existing airports in Patna and Darbhanga.
Comprehensive Airside Development Plan
The newly published tender, dated February 13, 2026, focuses exclusively on runway and associated airside infrastructure. The scope of work includes:
- Construction and strengthening of the existing runway
- Development of taxiway and apron facilities
- Perimeter road construction
- Ground Support Equipment (GSE) area establishment
- Vehicular lane and emergency access road creation
- Runway End Safety Area (RESA) implementation
- Runway basic strip and other associated works
These comprehensive upgrades will enable Muzaffarpur airport to handle Code-2B category aircraft, marking a crucial step toward connecting the region directly with major cities across India.
Historical Airport Revival Project
Spread across 99.4 acres at Patahi, Muzaffarpur airport holds historical significance but has remained largely underutilized for decades. The facility previously operated flights to Patna between 1967 and 1982 before commercial services ceased entirely.
The current revival project aims to transform this dormant facility into an operational regional hub capable of handling smaller aircraft, particularly 19-seater regional planes. This development aligns perfectly with the central government's UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme, which focuses on enhancing regional air connectivity.
Complementary Terminal Development
This latest airside tender complements an earlier infrastructure initiative worth approximately Rs 28.58 crore issued in October 2025. That tender focuses on terminal and support facilities, including:
- A prefabricated steel-structure terminal building spanning 1,250 square metres
- A pre-engineered Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower
- A modern fire station
- Various ancillary buildings and facilities
The terminal tender remains under evaluation by AAI officials and is expected to be awarded within the next 15 days. Once an agency is selected, construction is projected to be completed within 11 months.
Infrastructure Specifications and Planning
According to AAI officials, the existing airport infrastructure includes a 1,050-metre-long runway and two parking bays suitable for Code-2B aircraft. The current apron will be completely demolished and replaced with a new facility maintaining the same two parking bays for commercial flight operations.
Importantly, officials confirmed that no additional land acquisition will be required to accommodate operations with smaller regional aircraft, making this an efficient use of existing resources.
Political Significance and Broader Context
Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary described the airport development as "a major gift from the double-engine government" led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the center and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Bihar. He emphasized that the upgraded facility will benefit not only Muzaffarpur residents but also people from surrounding districts and the entire south Bihar region.
The project gained significant momentum following high-level approvals, including a June 2025 Bihar cabinet decision chaired by the Chief Minister. This decision approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the state government and AAI for developing six small airports across Bihar:
- Muzaffarpur
- Madhubani
- Birpur (Supaul)
- Munger
- Valmikinagar (West Champaran)
- Saharsa
Expected Benefits and Impact
The Muzaffarpur airport upgrades are projected to deliver multiple benefits to the region:
- Reduced travel dependency on Patna and Darbhanga airports
- Employment generation during construction and operational phases
- Tourism promotion through improved accessibility
- Enhanced regional connectivity under the UDAN scheme
- Economic development for Muzaffarpur and surrounding areas
Once operational, the revived airport is expected to significantly transform transportation dynamics in north Bihar, providing direct air links to major Indian cities while supporting the broader national objective of connecting smaller cities through regional aviation networks.
