Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary on Tuesday said Bihar aims to expand air connectivity tenfold over the next five years, as the state government reviewed a series of airport modernisation and aviation infrastructure projects with senior officials from the Union Civil Aviation Ministry.
The meeting was held at the ‘Sankalp’ auditorium inside the Lok Sevak Awas complex at 1 Aney Marg in Patna.
Focus On Airport Expansion And Regional Connectivity
During the review meeting, officials discussed:
- expansion and modernisation of airports and airstrips
- runway extension projects
- strengthening aviation security infrastructure
- implementation of the UDAN regional connectivity scheme
Civil Aviation Secretary Nilesh Ramchandra Deore presented a detailed roadmap covering ongoing coordination between the Bihar government and the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation.
Darbhanga International Upgrade Among Key Projects
Samir Kumar Sinha, Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation discussed proposals relating to the runway extension and capacity expansion of Patna Airport.
The meeting also reviewed:
- the proposed international upgradation of Darbhanga Airport
- the Ajgaibinath Dham Greenfield Airport project
- development of a permanent civil enclave at Purnia Airport
- airport development proposals for Muzaffarpur, Valmikinagar, Saharsa and Birpur
- upgradation of Forbesganj Airport
- inclusion of additional airports under the revised UDAN scheme
Officials also discussed modernising airstrips across the state to meet technical standards required for expanded aviation operations.
‘Bihar Can Become Eastern India’s Aviation Hub’
During the meeting, the Chief Minister said Bihar’s civil aviation sector was witnessing “rapid growth”.
He directed the Civil Aviation Department to prepare a comprehensive plan for:
- airport modernisation
- security enhancement
- inclusive aviation infrastructure development
CM Chaudhary said: “The objective is to establish air connectivity across all districts of Bihar.”
He added that the state government was working towards developing Bihar into a regional aviation hub for eastern India.
Patna Airport Expansion To Be Accelerated
The Chief Minister also instructed officials to expedite work related to runway expansion and passenger capacity enhancement at Patna Airport. He assured full cooperation from the Bihar government for projects being implemented in coordination with the Union Civil Aviation Ministry.
CM Chaudhary said granting international status to Darbhanga Airport would significantly increase international passenger traffic and strengthen the state’s connectivity network.
According to officials, the government expects expanded aviation infrastructure to:
- boost tourism
- stimulate economic activity
- improve regional connectivity
- create new employment opportunities
Senior officials present at the meeting included:
- Bihar Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit
- Vipin Kumar, director, Airports Authority of India (AAI)
- Deepak Kuma, Principal Secretary to CM
- Asangba Chuba Ao, Joint Secretary, Government of India
along with other senior state and central government officials.
