Patna: The Bihar government has begun fast-tracking plans to strengthen and expand regional air connectivity, weeks after carving out a dedicated civil aviation department. The renewed push focuses on key airports at Darbhanga, Purnia and Muzaffarpur, with land acquisition, terminals and runway upgrades moving into critical phases.
Providing an update, Nilesh Ramchandra Deore, secretary of the civil aviation department, said that all land acquisition awards required for the expansion of Darbhanga airport’s runway have been finalised and compensation to landowners is now being disbursed. In a post on X, he described the development as a major step towards upgrading the airport to international standards.
According to official sources, the Airports Authority of India had sought an additional 90 acres of land in October 2024 to extend Darbhanga’s runway to 12,000 feet, a length considered essential for wide-body aircraft and international operations. The expansion plan also includes a new terminal building and advanced navigation systems.
A new terminal at Darbhanga is under construction at an estimated cost of Rs 912 crore. Officials say the airport is being developed to international specifications and is expected to begin night landing operations within the next few months.
दरभंगा हवाई अड्डे के रनवे विस्तारीकरण हेतु भू-अर्जन के सभी अवार्ड पारित हो चुके हैं तथा भूस्वामियों को मुआवज़े का भुगतान प्रगति पर है।
मुज़फ़्फ़रपुर हवाई अड्डे के रनवे विकास की निविदा शीघ्र प्रकाशित की जाएगी।
वहीं, पूर्णिया में परमानेंट सिविल एनक्लेव के निर्माण हेतु निविदा भी…
— Nilesh Deore (@nildeoreIAS) January 8, 2026
Beyond Darbhanga, the state is also moving to consolidate air services in north-eastern Bihar. Deore said the tender for a permanent civil enclave at Purnia airport is expected to be issued shortly. Commercial flight operations from Purnia, located near the Indian Air Force base at Chunapur, were inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 15 last year.
Designed with modern security, waiting lounges and parking facilities, Purnia airport has emerged as a key aviation hub for the Seemanchal region. In the last three months of 2025 alone, the airport handled 54,037 passengers, underlining the growing demand for air travel in the area.
Attention has also turned to Muzaffarpur, where commercial flights are yet to begin. Deore said the tender for developing the Muzaffarpur airstrip’s runway would be published soon, clearing a long-standing hurdle in bringing scheduled air services to the region.
