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The new Bihta airport, capable of handling larger aircraft, is expected to be completed by the end of 2026 and will likely ease pressure on the existing Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport in Patna.
This new airport will be situated 25 km from the heart of Patna.(Representational Image)
In a significant move ahead of the state elections, the Centre has approved the first major project for Bihar — a new airport at Bihta, located in the outskirts of Patna, with a budget of Rs 459 crore, as reported by The Indian Express.
This announcement follows less than a month after the Centre revealed plans for a brownfield airport at Bihta. This new airport will be situated 25 km from the heart of Patna.
Having said that, the project has been awarded to a Russian company, as indicated by a letter of intent from the Airport Authority of India (AAI). This letter, sent to M/S Joint Stock Company “Industrial Association,” a major construction firm based in Saint Petersburg, Russia, on February 14, outlines the company’s responsibilities. They will oversee the development of a new civil enclave at Bihta, including the construction of an integrated terminal building, a utility building, an elevated road, and the airport’s IT system.
In addition to the Bihta airport, there are plans to create greenfield airports and enhance the existing capacity of Patna’s airport.
Moreover, construction of an elevated road from Danapur to Bihta is already in progress to reduce travel time.
The new airport, which will accommodate larger aircraft, is expected to be completed by the end of 2026 and will enhance the capacity of the current Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport in Patna.
Greenfield airports are built on undeveloped land, whereas brownfield airports are developed on existing airport infrastructure, such as runways and terminals.
There is currently an Indian Air Force base at the proposed Bihta site, and officials have confirmed that the state government has secured 108 acres of land for the project.
Sources suggest that one of the planned new greenfield airports will be an international airport near Patna, while others are set to be domestic airports located in Rajgir, Bhagalpur, and a yet-to-be-decided site in north Bihar.
