Patna: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday inaugurated the newly constructed terminal building at Jayprakash Narayan International Airport in Patna, a significant step towards enhancing air connectivity and easing travel for millions in Bihar. During the visit, he also laid the foundation stone for a new civil terminal at the Bihta airbase, a long-awaited project that is expected to ease pressure on Patna’s crowded airport.
The new terminal at Patna airport, built at a cost of Rs 1,216 crore, is designed to handle up to 8 million passengers annually and includes modern facilities such as aerobridges, expanded check-in counters, and increased parking capacity. The development comes in response to growing demand for air travel in the state capital, which has long struggled with overburdened infrastructure.
The foundation stone for the Bihta terminal marks the beginning of a major expansion project to transform the Indian Air Force base into a dual-use civilian airport. The Rs 1,400 crore project is aimed at creating a larger, more modern aviation facility that can support increasing passenger numbers and future international operations. The new terminal at Bihta is expected to become operational by 2026.
The visit is part of the Prime Minister’s two-day tour of Bihar, which includes a roadshow through Patna and a public rally in Rohtas scheduled for Friday. The events are being seen as both developmental and political in nature, as the BJP sharpens its focus on the state ahead of the upcoming assembly elections.
