Bihta Airbase Terminal Construction: Russian Firm to Present Plan to AAI Tomorrow

Patna: The construction of the terminal building for Bihta airbase will be undertaken by a joint venture between India’s JSCI agency and Vozrozhdenie Russian Company. The 8-acre terminal will be built at a cost of Rs 452.68 crore. The joint venture emerged as the lowest bidder among eight participants in the tendering process.

On Monday, top officials from the Russian company will present their construction plan to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) in Delhi, outlining their commitment to complete the project within two years. The Bihar government has allocated 108 acres of land to the AAI from the 126.40 acres acquired for the airport. The remaining 18.40 acres will be retained by the state government for the construction of a state hangar.

Runway Expansion Planned

To accommodate larger aircraft like Airbus in all weather conditions, the runway length will be increased from 8000 feet to 12000 feet. This expansion requires an additional 400 meters in length and 1500 meters in width, necessitating the acquisition of 190.50 acres of land. The land acquisition process has not yet commenced.

The proposed expansion will involve the demolition of 154 houses if land is acquired on the east side and 246 houses if acquired on the west side. The decision on which side to expand the airport is currently under consideration.

Modern Terminal with International Facilities

The four-story terminal building will feature separate zones for international and domestic flights. International flights will have access to two dedicated escalators and six immigration counters.

The construction contract mandates that Vozrozhdenii-JSCI will operate and maintain the terminal for the next seven years. This includes responsibilities for electromechanical works, IT and security systems, parking for 500 vehicles, an elevated road, and utility buildings.