Raxaul: People from Bihar’s West Champaran and East Champaran districts will soon be able to fly directly to Delhi and other major Indian cities from Raxaul instead of travelling to Kathmandu in Nepal, Gorakhpur or Patna to catch flights. The long-awaited expansion of Raxaul Airport has gathered pace and the airport is expected to become operational before the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
The redevelopment project is not only expected to improve civilian air connectivity in north Bihar but is also being viewed as strategically important for India’s defence preparedness due to its proximity to the Nepal-China border.
Runway Longer Than Patna Airport
The Raxaul Airport runway is being expanded from the existing 1,000 metres to 2,360 metres, making it 288 metres longer than the runway at Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport in Patna, which currently has a runway length of 2,072 metres.
After expansion, the airport will be capable of handling large passenger aircraft such as Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 planes. This will pave the way for direct commercial flights connecting the Champaran region with Delhi and other metropolitan cities.
The Bihar government has already released Rs 207.70 crore for acquisition of 139 acres of additional land required for the project. According to officials from the state aviation department, around 60% of the required land acquisition work has already been completed.
Strategic Importance Near Nepal-China Border
Located in East Champaran district near the India-Nepal border, Raxaul Airport holds immense strategic value for the Indian Air Force and national security agencies. The Nepal-China border is approximately 164 kilometres away by air from the airport.
The airport was originally developed after the 1962 India-China war on around 153 acres of land and was used for both military and civil operations. However, it became non-operational in 1970.
At present, the airport’s short runway can handle turboprop aircraft such as the Indian Air Force’s C-130J Super Hercules, which is mainly used for transporting troops and military equipment.
Officials said the expanded airport is being designed keeping strategic military requirements in mind. In emergency situations or during military operations, advanced fighter jets including Rafale, Tejas, Jaguar and MiG-29 aircraft will be able to land and take off from the facility.
How the Runway Will Support Fighter Jets
Defence and aviation experts say fighter aircraft require specially designed runways due to their high-speed landing and take-off requirements. A runway of around 2,000 metres is considered sufficient for fighter jets like Rafale and Tejas.
The runway at Raxaul will reportedly be constructed using high-strength Pavement Quality Concrete (PQC) instead of standard asphalt. Such runways are designed to withstand extreme heat generated by aircraft tyres and the heavy impact pressure during landings.
The airport will also be equipped with advanced navigation systems, high-intensity lighting and CAT II Instrument Landing System (ILS) technology to support operations during low visibility and night-time conditions.
Sources said the infrastructure plan may also include facilities such as aircraft hangars and secure weapon storage areas in line with military requirements.
Officials believe the upgraded airport could eventually allow India to station fighter aircraft closer to the China border from Bihar.
Construction Timeline and Tender Details
The Airports Authority of India issued a global tender for the airport redevelopment project on May 6, 2026. A pre-bid meeting was held in New Delhi on May 13, attended by several international players.
According to the tender conditions, the selected consultancy agency will have four months to prepare the detailed airport design, including plans for the runway, Air Traffic Services (ATS), apron, taxiway, isolation bay and civil infrastructure.
After the final tender is issued, the construction agency will get 18 months to complete the work and hand over the airport to authorities. An additional two months will be allowed for finishing work and inspections.
If the project progresses on schedule, officials expect the airport construction to be completed by June 2028, paving the way for flight operations before the 2029 general elections.
Part of the expanded runway will reportedly pass over the Tilave river, for which a bridge structure will be constructed. The airport infrastructure will extend up to the Raxaul embankment area.
Major Relief for North Bihar Travellers
The airport is expected to directly benefit residents of East Champaran, West Champaran, Gopalganj, Sheohar and Sitamarhi districts.
Currently, many passengers from the Champaran region travel to Kathmandu in Nepal to board flights to Delhi because of limited air connectivity in north Bihar. However, air travel from Kathmandu is expensive, with passengers paying around Rs 3,500 as airport tax.
Once Raxaul Airport becomes operational, passengers flying to Delhi are expected to pay around Rs 1,250 as airport tax, significantly reducing travel expenses and saving time.
Road Connectivity Projects Underway
To improve access to the airport, major road infrastructure projects are also being executed in the region. The Bettiah-Raxaul and Motihari-Raxaul four-lane highway projects are expected to be completed by 2029.
Officials said travellers will be able to reach the airport from Bettiah in around 40 minutes and from Motihari in approximately 45 minutes after completion of the road projects.
BJP MP Sanjay Jaiswal inspected the proposed runway area along with officials on May 9.
Bihar’s Fifth Airport
At present, Bihar has four operational airports:
• Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport, Patna — the state’s busiest airport
• Gaya International Airport — mainly used by Buddhist pilgrims
• Darbhanga Airport — developed under the UDAN scheme
• Purnia Airport — operational since September 2025
Raxaul Airport is set to become Bihar’s fifth operational airport after redevelopment.
PM Announcement Made a Decade Ago
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the expansion of Raxaul Airport in 2016. In January 2023, then Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar approved land acquisition for the project.
After nearly a decade, the project has now entered the execution stage with the release of international tenders and the beginning of design and construction processes.
