Patna: The first phase of construction at Bihta Airport near Patna is set to begin by mid-July, with work commencing on both the passenger terminal building and an adjoining service block. The move marks a significant milestone in the long-awaited development of the new airport intended to ease congestion at Patna’s existing terminal.
The service block will house the electrical panel for the terminal, a fire-fighting station, and the junction point for the baggage handling system. Currently, the contractor agency is engaged in site preparation, including land clearing, bush removal, and levelling. A site cap has also been constructed as part of initial ground works.
According to officials, the construction of the terminal will require around 1,000 workers, comprising 800 labourers, 100 technicians, and 100 officers. The contractor has already applied for approvals from the Labour Resources Department for hiring personnel and from the Indian Air Force due to the proximity of a sensitive military base near the construction zone.
The agency has also secured environmental clearance for tree removal at the designated site.
In the first phase, 108 acres of land have been secured for the airport, on which a boundary wall has already been erected. An additional eight acres were later acquired, and the construction of an eight-foot-high boundary wall on this land is estimated to cost Rs 2 crore. Bihar State Building Construction Corporation Limited has floated a tender for this, which is scheduled to open on June 23, with completion targeted within six months.
To ensure seamless access to Bihta Airport from Patna, the Danapur–Bihta elevated road is being constructed at a rapid pace. Scheduled for completion by November 2026, the new four-lane expressway will cut travel time to the airport to 30–40 minutes. Bihta Airport itself is slated to be ready by March 2027, according to government officials.
Once operational, the airport is expected to significantly boost air connectivity for the state capital and its adjoining regions, relieving pressure on the overburdened Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport in Patna.
