Patna: Patna’s aviation and road connectivity are set for a major upgrade, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi likely to inaugurate the new terminal building at Jayaprakash Narayan International Airport on May 30, alongside the foundation stone laying of the long-awaited civil enclave at Bihta and the Patna-Sasaram four-lane highway.
The Rs 1,216 crore new terminal, which has been completed and is ready to handle passengers, features striking Madhubani art and modern facilities designed to ease the burden on one of India’s most congested airports. With an annual capacity of up to 8 million passengers, the terminal marks a major step forward in addressing Bihar’s aviation needs.
According to airport officials, the terminal will boast 64 check-in counters, with security check areas expanded fivefold to ease congestion and minimize wait times. Unlike the present building where arrival and departure areas are awkwardly located on the same level, the new facility will offer a modern split-level design with arrivals on the ground floor and departures on the first.
In addition, the Prime Minister is likely to lay the foundation for the civil enclave at Bihta Air Force Station, which is envisioned to serve as an alternative airport for Patna, catering to the growing demands of air traffic and providing improved connectivity to western Bihar.
On the same day, the Prime Minister is also likely to kickstart work on the Rs 3,700 crore Patna-Sasaram access-controlled highway, a project that aims to reduce travel time between the two cities from four hours to just one and a half hours, ensuring smoother logistics and commuter convenience.
