Patna: The Bihar government will launch the Chief Minister Bihar Heli-Tourism and Air Tourism Service Scheme-2026 on July 15, introducing helicopter services to major religious and tourist destinations in the state. The scheme, approved by the state cabinet on June 16, will run on a pilot basis until January 15, 2027.
The initiative aims to promote religious, heritage and nature tourism while generating employment and increasing tourism-related revenue. The services will operate every Saturday and Sunday.
Three Destinations In The First Phase
The first phase of the scheme will connect Patna with three tourist destinations:
• Valmikinagar in West Champaran
• Rajgir in Nalanda
• Maa Mundeshwari Temple in Kaimur
All helicopter operations will depart from the Bihar Hangar in Patna.
Flight Schedule
For the Patna–Valmikinagar route, the first flight will leave Patna at 10:00 am and return at 11:00 am. A second flight will depart at 3:00 pm, with the return journey scheduled for 4:30 pm.
The Patna–Rajgir flight will depart at 9:30 am and return at 10:30 am.
The Patna–Maa Mundeshwari service, operating via the Karamchat Dam Helipad in Kaimur, will depart at 11:00 am and return at 12:45 pm.
Patna Helicopter Joyride
The scheme also introduces a 10-minute helicopter joyride over Patna city. The joyride will be available on Saturdays and Sundays, beginning at 3:00 pm, with flights scheduled every 30 minutes. Four joyrides will be conducted each day.
Ticket Booking And Refund Policy
According to the Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation, tickets can be booked online through its official platform. Passengers will be able to pay using UPI, net banking, debit cards and credit cards.
Officials said passengers will receive a full refund if flights are cancelled because of adverse weather or technical reasons.
Fares For Different Routes
The Bihar government has fixed the one-way fare between Patna and Rajgir at Rs 4,000, while passengers travelling from Rajgir to Patna will also pay Rs 4,000.
The one-way fare between Patna and Valmikinagar has been set at Rs 5,000, with the return journey from Valmikinagar to Patna also costing Rs 5,000.
Passengers travelling between Patna and Maa Mundeshwari Temple in Kaimur will pay Rs 6,000 for a one-way journey. The fare for the return trip from Maa Mundeshwari to Patna has also been fixed at Rs 6,000.
The 10-minute Patna helicopter joyride will be available at Rs 2,100 per person.
Operator And Government’s Objective
The helicopter service will be operated by M/s Swandan Aviation Private Limited. Under the agreement, the company will receive a monthly rental payment of Rs 87 lakh and Rs 99,000 per flying hour for operations.
The Bihar government said the scheme is expected to strengthen religious and heritage tourism, attract more domestic and international visitors, create local employment opportunities and contribute to the state’s economy.
