Patna: The Bihar government has approved the construction of two greenfield airports in Sonepur and Ajgaivinath Dham, in a move officials say will strengthen regional connectivity and support economic growth.
Work on the projects has begun, with the state’s civil aviation department initiating the release of around Rs 100 crore to the implementing agency. The funds are to be disbursed in 16 instalments.
The proposed Sonepur airport, located near Patna, is intended to reduce congestion at the capital’s existing airport, while the facility at Ajgaivinath Dham in Sultanganj, Bhagalpur district, is expected to improve access to eastern Bihar, including key religious and tourism sites.
Together, the projects will span more than 7,200 acres of land—approximately 4,228 acres in Sonepur and just over 3,064 acres in Sultanganj. The state has set a target of completing both airports by 2030.
A detailed project report is being prepared by RITES Limited, for which a consultancy fee of Rs 5.06 crore has been approved.
Land acquisition represents a significant portion of the overall investment. The state cabinet has cleared compensation of about Rs 1,302 crore for land in Sonepur. In Bhagalpur district, Rs 472.72 crore has been sanctioned for the acquisition of 931 acres, with Rs 150 crore already released to local authorities.
Officials said the Sonepur airport will feature a runway of around 5.5km, long enough to accommodate wide-body aircraft. If completed as planned, the two airports could position Bihar as a more prominent node in India’s aviation network, while also supporting tourism, trade and employment in the region.
