Bihar to Have 6 Functional Airports in 3 Years, Says Chief Secretary.

Bihar is poised for a significant transformation in its civil aviation sector, with plans to have six functional large airports and an additional six smaller airports operational within the next three years. This ambitious expansion aims to ensure that no town in the state is more than 200 kilometers from an airport.

To attract more flight operators and enhance air connectivity, the state government has already slashed VAT on aviation turbine fuel from 29% to a mere 4%.

Speaking to TOI, Chief Secretary Amrit Lal Meena confirmed that Bihar currently operates three functional airports in Patna, Gaya, and Darbhanga. Three more major airports are set to join this list:

• 
  

  Purnia airport is targeted to be operational by August this year.

  
  


• 
  

  Bihta airport is expected to be functional by December 2027.

  
  


• 
  

  Raxaul airport aims to begin operations by June 2028.

  
  

UDAN Scheme to Boost Regional Connectivity

In addition to these major hubs, six new smaller airports are slated for development within the next three years under the central government's UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) scheme. These airports will be located in Madhubani, Saharsa, Birpur (Supaul), Valmiki Nagar (West Champaran), Munger, and Muzaffarpur.

Nilesh Ramchandra Deore, Special Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat (with additional charge as Director of Civil Aviation, Bihar), explained that while these small airport sites are currently maintained by the state government, they lack essential infrastructure such as air traffic control towers and terminal buildings. Under the UDAN scheme, the Centre will allocate approximately ₹25 crore to each airport for the construction of these facilities, making them fully functional.

Once these six smaller airports are operational, Bihar will boast a total of 12 airports (both large and small), significantly bolstering its air travel network and regional connectivity.