Patna: The government of Bihar has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to develop six new regional airports, marking a significant step towards improving air connectivity across the state.
The agreement was formalised on Monday at Bihar Niwas in New Delhi in the presence of Chief Secretary Amrit Lal Meena and Bihar’s Resident Commissioner Kundan Kumar. The new airports are planned for Birpur (Supaul), Valmikinagar (West Champaran), Saharsa, Madhubani, Munger and Muzaffarpur. All six projects will be implemented under the central government’s UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) regional connectivity scheme, which aims to make air travel more affordable and widespread.
नई दिल्ली स्थित बिहार निवास में आज मुख्य सचिव बिहार एवं निवासी आयुक्त बिहार @kundan_ias की उपस्थिति में बिहार सरकार व @AAI_Official के बीच 6 हवाईअड्डों (बीरपुर, वाल्मीकिनगर, सहारसा, मधुबनी, मुंगेर, मुजफ्फरपुर) के विकास हेतु समझौता ज्ञापन पर हस्ताक्षर हुआ।
यह सभी एयरपोर्ट #UDAN… pic.twitter.com/foydTdJW0S
— Nilesh Deore (@nildeoreIAS) June 30, 2025
Nilesh Ramchandra Deore, Special Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat Department and Director of the Directorate of Civil Aviation, shared news of the signing via social media platform X.
The state cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, had earlier approved the proposal on 17 June. An initial allocation of Rs 150 crore—equivalent to Rs 25 crore per airport—has been sanctioned to fund technical surveys, land acquisition, and the development of basic infrastructure such as runways and terminal facilities.
The expansion of small airports is part of Bihar’s broader strategy to decentralise air services beyond its existing airports in Patna, Gaya and Darbhanga. Construction is already underway on a new international airport at Bihta near Patna, the foundation stone for which was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month. The regional airport initiative fits into a larger plan to establish up to ten new airports across the state.
Once operational, the six airports are expected to cater to smaller aircraft, likely including 19-seater planes, facilitating better connectivity for currently underserved districts. Officials hope the new infrastructure will not only enhance passenger mobility but also stimulate local tourism, trade and investment.
