Why Bihar’s new Purnea airport, like in Darbhanga, uses porta cabins

What are prefabricated porta cabins, and why have Bihar’s airports taken this route? We explain.

First, about the Purnea airport

The airport will improve connectivity for the Seemanchal region, benefitting people living in the eastern Bihar districts of Purnea, Araria, Kishanganj, Katihar, and Bhagalpur; Malda and nearby areas of West Bengal; and even the Biratnagar, Itahari, Jhapa and Morang regions of Nepal.

So far, the closest airports to Purnea were Darbhanga (about 200 km west), Bagdogra (around 160 km away), and Deoghar (about 200 km south), all requiring four to five hours of travel by road.

With this new airport, the flight to Kolkata takes about two hours, compared with a 10-hour road journey, while a flight to Patna will take less than an hour.

Since the airport has been built under the Centre’s UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) scheme, the ATR aircraft (suitable for shorter runways) help keep fares affordable.

Located about 10 km from Purnea town, the airport is situated on a 2,800-meter runway within the Indian Air Force’s Chunapur base, established in 1962 following the Sino-Indian war.

Civilian flights were attempted here twice before, first in 1976–78 and again in 2012–13, but both efforts were short-lived, ending within a year. These disruptions were caused by a mix of factors including limited demand, operational challenges, and infrastructural constraints, delaying consistent civilian air access for nearly four decades.

This time too, while the airport was announced in 2015, land acquisition became a significant hurdle.

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) originally sought land on the south side of the runway, but due to a lack of coordination, the Bihar government acquired 52 acres on the north side in 2022. This forced multiple redesigns and created access problems, as the northern plot lacked proper road links. Further complications arose in 2023 when AAI requested an additional 15 acres, but acquisition was delayed. Farmer protests and compensation disputes added to the holdup.

This is where the porta cabins came in.

To accelerate the airport’s operationalisation, officials decided to build an interim terminal using prefabricated porta cabins similar to models used in Darbhanga and Hindon (Ghaziabad) for quick operational readiness.

Porta cabins are basically modular structures, made of materials like steel or PUF (polyurethane foam), which can be manufactured in factories and then transported to the desired location for installation.

Several airports like Shirdi (Maharashtra), Kalaburagi (Karnataka), Hubballi (Karnataka), and Chitrakoot (UP) have operated successfully from porta cabins or prefabricated structures, especially during their early years, under the UDAN scheme.

What are the merits, challenges of porta cabin airport terminals?

Porta cabin airport terminals offer a cost-effective and swift solution for handling passengers, particularly when launching new routes or addressing delays in the construction of permanent infrastructure. These prefabricated terminals can be installed and become operational within a matter of weeks.

Their modular design is particularly well-suited for India’s regional connectivity push, where rapid expansion is often needed, but land or funds for permanent structures may not be readily available. Furthermore, their adaptability allows airport authorities to expand terminal capacity quickly or even relocate the cabins within the airport premises, should demand fluctuate.

While porta cabin terminals serve as a short-term solution, their limitations in space, facilities, and durability make them unsuitable for long-term use. These structures often lack premium amenities, such as business lounges, high-end stores, or escalators, which are commonly expected in modern airport terminals. Additionally, their utilitarian appearance may not align with the branding or aesthetic standards of contemporary airports.

What does the Purnea airport terminal look like?

Built at a cost of approximately Rs 34 crore, the interim terminal spans around 3,000 square meters and can handle up to 300 passengers during peak hours, according to AAI. This prefabricated interim structure has a check-in hall with six counters. The interiors are decorated with Manjusha art, a traditional style from the region.

The single-story building has two boarding gates and two arrival gates, each designed to handle ATR and Embraer-class aircraft.

Officials say that the 2.8-kilometer runway at the airbase is long enough for larger jets, including Airbus A320s and Boeing 737s.

What are its future plans?

A Rs 500-crore permanent terminal is planned, which will include expanded aerobridges, additional apron space, and cargo facilities to handle expected passenger and commercial growth.