The establishment of a dedicated civil aviation department in Bihar has injected fresh momentum into the state's airport infrastructure push. Focused on enhancing regional connectivity, significant strides are being made in the development of airports in Darbhanga, Purnia, Raxaul, and Muzaffarpur.
Darbhanga Airport: A Major Hub Taking Shape
According to Nilesh Ramchandra Deore, Special Secretary of the department, all awards for land acquisition related to the crucial runway expansion at Darbhanga Airport are now complete. Compensation distribution to landowners is currently in progress.
The expansion will add 90 acres at a cost of Rs 245 crore, extending the runway from 9,000 feet to 12,000 feet. This upgrade will enable the airport to handle larger aircraft, moving beyond the current Airbus A-320 operations.
Simultaneously, work is advancing on the new, iconic civil enclave. Its foundation was laid virtually by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in October 2023. With a total central investment of Rs 912 crore, the terminal is scheduled for completion by September 2026.
Spanning 76 acres, the terminal's design is inspired by the historic Darbhanga Fort and will showcase traditional Mithila paintings and sculptures by local artists. It is designed to manage 3,000 passengers during peak hours and 30 lakh annually. Key facilities will include:
- 40 check-in counters
- 14 self check-in kiosks
- 5 aerobridges
- An apron for 7 aircraft
- A multi-level car park
- A dedicated cargo terminal
Darbhanga Airport has been operational since 2020 under the central government's UDAN scheme from an interim terminal.
Progress on Raxaul, Muzaffarpur, and Purnia Airports
The development wave is not limited to Darbhanga. Deore stated that the award process for acquiring 139 acres of land for Raxaul Airport's development is in its final stage. District authorities will soon begin compensating landowners.
Once the land is acquired, the runway will be extended to 2,360 meters, allowing for the safe operation of Airbus A-320 and Boeing-737 aircraft, significantly boosting connectivity in the region.
Brownfield Upgrades and New Terminals
For Muzaffarpur's Patahi Airport, owned by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), a tender for runway development is expected to be issued shortly. This brownfield upgrade will utilize over Rs 28 crore to handle small Code-2B aircraft and include a new terminal building. The existing facility has a 1,050-meter-long runway.
In Purnia, the state government has already transferred 67 acres of land to the AAI for constructing a new terminal building. Officials confirmed that apron development work is already underway. A tender for the construction of a permanent civil enclave is also expected soon. Commercial flight operations began from Purnia last year under the UDAN scheme.
A Boost for Bihar's Connectivity and Economy
The coordinated push across these four airports underscores the state's serious commitment to improving air connectivity. These projects, once completed, are poised to:
- Stimulate economic activity and tourism in northern Bihar.
- Provide faster travel options for residents.
- Integrate the region more closely with national and potentially international air networks.
- Create employment opportunities during and after construction.
The focused efforts of the new civil aviation department signal a transformative phase for Bihar's infrastructure, aiming to bridge the connectivity gap and fuel regional growth.
