Patna: Patna District Magistrate, Dr. Chandrashekhar Singh, held a meeting on Tuesday to review the progress of land acquisition for the expansion of Bihta Airport’s runway and the construction of a new civil enclave. The project, which aims to increase the length of the runway from 8,000 feet to 12,000 feet, requires an additional 190.5 acres of land. A multi-member team, appointed to ensure the timely acquisition of this land, has already conducted site visits and is expected to submit its findings on suitable options within two days. The recommendations will be forwarded to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the Indian Air Force for further technical assessment.
In addition to the runway extension, an extra 8 acres of land in Vishambarpur are being acquired to facilitate the construction of the civil enclave. A notification for this acquisition was issued in late September, and after addressing any objections, the land is expected to be handed over by December. Dr. Singh confirmed that the 108 acres previously allocated for the Bihta Airport project will enable terminal construction to proceed without delays, with both land acquisition and building works running in parallel.
The District Magistrate also addressed other essential infrastructure developments, including a six-lane approach road connecting NH-922 to the civil enclave, drainage systems, and the relocation of high-tension power lines that pass through the acquired land. The drainage system’s Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been prepared by the Minor Water Resources Department, while work on the airport link road is already in progress.
Dr. Singh emphasised the importance of the Bihta civil enclave project, noting its potential to significantly ease passenger travel and enhance regional connectivity. He assured that the district administration is working closely with various departments and stakeholders to ensure all aspects of the project are completed promptly and efficiently.
The meeting also reviewed the ongoing expansion of Patna Airport, which includes the allocation of 1.5 acres of land for a new Meteorological Centre and preparations for installing CAT-I lighting and DVOR systems to improve air traffic management.
Senior officials from the Civil Aviation Directorate, Patna Airport, and district administration were present at the meeting, along with representatives from the Airports Authority of India and the Indian Air Force.
