Patna: Patna airport is getting ready for a big change. At present, 72 flights operate daily from Patna to 14 cities, carrying nearly 40 lakh passengers every year. Due to this rapid growth, a massive project worth Rs 1,216 crore is underway to expand the airport. Before the lockdown, Patna airport was among the top five fastest growing big airports in India. Direct flights run from Patna to Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Lucknow, Banaras, Ranchi, Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Guwahati, Pune and Bhubaneswar.
The airport’s original terminal could handle only five lakh passengers annually, but now its capacity has been increased to 25 lakh. However, to manage the growing number of travellers, a new ultra-modern terminal is being built for Rs 722 crore. This new terminal will be spread over 57,000 square metres, while the current terminal is just 7,200 square metres. The two-storey building will have departure on the upper floor, five aerobridges, and ten parking bays for aircraft. Its design will showcase Bihar’s heritage with Madhubani art and Nalanda-style architecture. A huge replica of the Ashoka Pillar and beautiful gardens will also be built outside.
Apart from this, a four-storey parking facility for 750 cars has been constructed, with a shopping complex on the top floor for travellers to shop while waiting. Meanwhile, Darbhanga airport has seen rapid growth too. Around 2.5 lakh people travelled from Darbhanga within seven months after flights started in November 2020. Flights from Darbhanga go to Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Ahmedabad.
To further boost air connectivity, a large civil enclave is being built at Bihta Air Force Base for Rs 800 crore. It will handle 25 lakh passengers yearly and can be expanded to 50 lakh if needed. The runway there will also be extended so big planes can land easily. A new 18.5 km four-lane road is being built to connect Bihta airport to Danapur railway station for better travel.
Gaya airport, Bihar’s only international airport, has direct flights to Colombo and Bangkok. Sri Lankan Airlines flies to Delhi via Gaya thrice a week, while Air India flies from Bangkok to Gaya four times a week. These expansions will make flying easier and more comfortable for passengers across Bihar in the coming years.
