Bihar gets wings in election year – airport in Patna suburbs sanctioned by Centre, will cost Rs 459 crore

A Russian company has been awarded the Bihta project, a letter of intent issued by the Airport Authority of India (AAI) shows. The letter, issued to M/S Joint Stock Company “Industrial Association” — a construction major from Saint Petersburg, Russia — on February 14, says that the company is responsible for the development of a new civil enclave at Bihta, construction of a new integrated terminal building, utility building, elevated road and airport and IT system at the cost of Rs 459 crore.

This is part of the massive infrastructure push in the state ahead of assembly elections later this year. Apart from the Bihta project, the development of greenfield airports and expanding the capacity of the Patna airport are also on the cards.

Besides this, the construction of an elevated road from Danapur to Bihta to minimise travel time is already underway.

The new airport, from which bigger aircraft can operate, is likely to be ready by the end of 2026 and will likely expand the capacity of the existing Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport in Patna.

Greenfield airports are built on undeveloped land while a brownfield airport is built on an existing airport infrastructure, such as runways and terminals.

There is an existing Indian Air Force base at the proposed Bihta site, and an official said that the state government has already secured 108 acres of land for the project.

“An airport at Bihta will boost air connectivity not just for Patna but also for neighbouring cities of Bhojpur, Saran and Buxar. The upcoming elevated corridor in Bihar – the longest in the state yet — would further boost commercial activities along the 20-km route,” he said.

According to sources, one of the proposed new greenfield airports will be an international one and will be close to Patna. The others would all be domestic greenfield airports and are likely to be at Rajgir, Bhagalpur and an undecided site in north Bihar.

A JD(U) leader said that although the party was happy at the Centre’s allocation for Bihta, it was concerned about two things — the control of the Indian Air Force at the airport and “that some villages are still coming in way of its extended runway”.