Patna: Plans to install a state-of-the-art surveillance radar at Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport in Patna have been delayed due to the lack of land allocation, officials said on Saturday.
Airport authorities have formally requested land from the Bihar government and have already identified a suitable site, but the project has not moved forward as the required clearance is yet to be granted. Officials said a proposal was sent to the state government nearly four months ago, and installation will begin once the land is handed over.
According to officials, around one acre of land measuring approximately 90 by 100 metres near the ICAR campus has been earmarked for the radar facility. The system would provide real-time surveillance data not only for Patna but for all airports across Bihar.
At present, smaller airports in the state, including Gaya, Darbhanga, and Purnia, operate without dedicated radar coverage. Patna, one of the busiest regional airports in the country, still relies largely on visual observation and conventional navigation systems for flight operations.
The proposed radar would allow air traffic controllers to monitor aircraft movement with greater accuracy, improving separation, guidance, and overall operational safety. Officials said the system would be particularly critical during winter months, when dense fog and low visibility frequently disrupt flights in the region.
Authorities believe the radar installation would help reduce delays and cancellations, ease congestion in crowded airspace, and improve the airport’s capacity to manage growing passenger traffic and future international services. Airport officials said they are hopeful the state government will soon allocate the required land, allowing Patna airport to be upgraded with modern surveillance technology.
