Patna: Prime Minister Narendra Modi led a grand road show through the heart of Patna on Thursday evening, shortly after inaugurating the newly constructed terminal building at Jayprakash Narayan International Airport and laying the foundation stone of a new civil enclave at the Bihta airbase. The road show drew thousands of enthusiastic citizens, transforming the 5-km stretch from the airport to the BJP state headquarters into a vibrant celebration of patriotism and political fervour.
The Prime Minister landed in Patna around 4:30pm and inaugurated the new terminal building — a state-of-the-art facility built at a cost of Rs 1,216 crore. Designed to accommodate up to 8 million passengers annually, the terminal features expanded check-in counters, aerobridges, and upgraded parking facilities, aimed at easing pressure on Patna’s overburdened airport infrastructure.
Soon after, PM Modi laid the foundation stone for the long-awaited civil enclave at Bihta, located about 30 km west of Patna. The Bihta terminal, spread over 68,000 square metres, is projected to handle 5 million passengers annually by 2047 and will significantly bolster air connectivity for Bihar.
Following the ceremonies, the Prime Minister embarked on a high-security road show that began from Dumra Chowk near the airport and moved through Bailey Road, Income Tax roundabout, and Beerchand Patel Path, culminating at the BJP state headquarters. Throughout the route, thousands of supporters lined the roads, waving the Tricolour, showering flowers, and chanting slogans of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Modi-Modi”.
Around 3,000 security personnel and 200 magistrates were deployed across the city to ensure a smooth and secure passage. Snipers were positioned on rooftops, and traffic diversions were enforced between 4pm and 8pm to manage the large crowds.
The road show comes as part of PM Modi’s two-day visit to Bihar, during which he is scheduled to address a public rally in Rohtas on Friday. The visit marks the Prime Minister’s first appearance in the state following Operation Sindoor and underlines the BJP’s outreach ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections next year.
