Parliamentary Panel Chairman Meets Aviation Minister to Discuss Airport Expansion in Bihar

Bihar Airports to Get Major Upgrades, International Flights to Launch from Darbhanga

Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture, Sanjay Kumar Jha, met with Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu on Tuesday to discuss the expansion of airports in Patna, Darbhanga, and Gaya. The meeting, held at the Ministry of Civil Aviation, was attended by several senior officials, including the Secretary of the Ministry, Joint Secretary, and the Chairman of the Airports Authority of India.

The key points of discussion centered around the expansion of runways in Patna, Darbhanga, and Gaya airports, with a focus on converting Darbhanga into an international airport. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has agreed to extend the runway at Patna Airport by 300 meters and install a simple approach lighting system to enhance safety and modernity. To facilitate this, a request has been made to the state government to provide approximately 49 acres of land.

The meeting also marked significant progress towards converting Darbhanga Airport into an international airport. The state government has completed the process of land acquisition of 90 acres, which will be handed over to the Airports Authority of India within the next two weeks. This will enable the extension of the runway to 12,000 feet (3,658 meters) and the installation of the necessary lighting system.

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In addition to these developments, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has also agreed to the runway expansion at Gaya Airport, with a request made to the state government to provide additional land for this purpose. Furthermore, the preliminary feasibility study report for the proposed airport at Sultanganj has come back positive, opening up new possibilities for development in Bhagalpur and surrounding areas.

The meeting also discussed the launch of international flight services from Darbhanga, which is expected to usher in a new era of development in Mithila and the entire North Bihar. The Ministry of Defence has agreed to hold a meeting in this regard, and the UDAN scheme is expected to play a significant role in connecting the Buddhist circuit, new helipads, and religious-tourism sites with aviation services.

The Ministry has also agreed to initiate the tender-related process by June 2026 for operating small aircraft from Bearpur, Valmiki Nagar, Saharsa, and Muzaffarpur airports. With these developments, Sanjay Kumar Jha is confident that better air connectivity will create new opportunities for tourism, trade, investment, and employment in Bihar, and the state's economic progress will gain new momentum in the coming years.

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