Muzaffarpur: Hopes of air connectivity returning to Muzaffarpur gained fresh momentum after Bihar’s deputy chief minister, Samrat Choudhary, announced that the long-awaited Patahi airport would begin operations by 2026, with restoration work already in progress. The announcement came during chief minister Nitish Kumar’s Samriddhi Yatra visit to the district, where senior leaders outlined a series of infrastructure commitments.
Addressing a public gathering, Choudhary said the airport project had moved beyond the planning stage and entered execution. A tender worth Rs 40 crore has been floated for the renovation and strengthening of the runway, which he described as the first major step towards making the facility operational. Additional upgrades, including expansion of basic infrastructure and passenger amenities, are expected to follow once the runway work is completed.
Highlighting the state’s financial capacity, the deputy chief minister said Bihar now has the resources to fast-track development projects. He contrasted the state’s pre-2005 budget of Rs 23,000 crore with the current outlay of Rs 3.17 lakh crore, crediting the rise to cooperation between the state and the Centre. Referring to the ruling alliance as a “double-engine government”, he said the partnership had accelerated growth across sectors.
Muzaffarpur’s airstrip currently remains short and unsuitable for regular commercial flights, with land acquisition under way to enable expansion. The process may require relocation of several nearby villages. The airport has long featured as a key electoral promise in the region, with multiple political leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former state minister Suresh Sharma pledging to make it operational, though services have yet to begin.
Beyond aviation, Choudhary also outlined broader urban transport plans. A Detailed Project Report for a proposed metro service in Muzaffarpur is being prepared by the railway public sector undertaking RITES. In addition, a new road along the Budhi Gandak embankment, connecting Mushahari to Pusa in Samastipur district, is expected to improve connectivity and ease travel between the two districts.
Together, officials say, the airport, metro proposal and road infrastructure form part of a wider strategy to position Muzaffarpur as a regional growth hub and strengthen its economic links with the rest of Bihar.
