Bihar Govt Pushes for Aviation Boom; New Airports Placed on the Fast Track.

Bihar is fast-tracking a broad expansion of its aviation infrastructure, with multiple airport projects underway across the state aimed at improving regional air connectivity, boosting tourism, facilitating trade and supporting economic growth.

The development strategy focuses on upgrading existing airports and building new greenfield facilities, particularly in north and east Bihar, to ease pressure on Patna and enable more direct flight connectivity.

A key project is the development of Raxaul Airport in East Champaran near the India-Nepal border. The brownfield airport is being positioned as a strategic hub for cross-border movement with Birgunj in Nepal. Around 139 acres have been identified for expansion to support operations of larger aircraft such as Airbus A320 and Boeing 737. Of this, roughly one-third has already been acquired, with the remainder expected soon. The state government has released about ₹208 crore for land acquisition.

Officials said the runway will be extended to 2,360 metres, enabling commercial jet operations and allowing emergency landings by Indian Air Force aircraft.

At Darbhanga Airport, which has been operational since 2020, expansion work is underway to handle rising passenger traffic. Civil aviation secretary Nilesh Ramchandra Deore said land acquisition for runway extension is in its final stages, while construction of a new ₹572 crore permanent terminal is progressing and targeted for completion by November 2026. The upgraded terminal will be significantly larger and include modern passenger facilities. A cargo hub has also been approved.

The Bihar cabinet has cleared a ₹138-crore cargo hub and aerocity project near Darbhanga, covering about 50 acres for logistics infrastructure, a domestic air cargo terminal and allied facilities. Work on apron, taxiway and airside infrastructure is also progressing.

In north Bihar, efforts are also underway to revive Muzaffarpur Airport at Patahi. Tenders have been issued for upgrades to support Code-2B aircraft. One package worth around ₹43 crore covers runway, taxiway and apron works, while another ₹28 crore package includes a prefabricated terminal, ATC tower and fire station.

Similarly, Birpur Airport in Supaul is being developed as a Code-2B facility. Officials said the terminal tender has been completed, while the runway tender will be issued shortly. The project includes a prefabricated terminal, pre-engineered ATC tower, fire station and associated infrastructure under EPC mode.

Deore said land acquisition for both Muzaffarpur and Birpur airports has been approved by the state cabinet, and the process for appointing a detailed project report (DPR) agency is nearing completion.

Alongside these upgrades, greenfield projects are also planned, including a proposed international airport at Sonepur in Saran district spread over more than 4,200 acres, with ₹1,302 crore sanctioned for land acquisition, and another airport proposed at Sultanganj in Bhagalpur.

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has also floated a ₹35 crore tender to upgrade the Sahara airport, aimed at enabling operations of Code-2B aircraft, with a planned completion timeline of 450 days.