With an eye on repeating its electoral successes registered in Haryana, Maharashtra and Delhi in Bihar, the BJP-led central government is learnt to have set the ball rolling on a massive infrastructure bonanza for the state.
As the first step towards this, the Centre has sanctioned an airport at Bihta in Patna’s suburbs at a cost of Rs 459 crore, The Indian Express reported. The development comes less than a month after the Centre announced an airport in Bihta among several other measures during the Union Budget 2025-26.
As per the IE report, the Airport Authority of India has issued a letter of intent to a Russian company which has been awarded the Bihta airport project. The LoI was issued to M/S Joint Stock Company “Industrial Association”, a construction major from Saint Petersburg, Russia on February 14.
The works envisaged as part of the contract include 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.
The Centre had announced the development of the Bihta airport project as part of a massive infrastructural push for the state ahead of polls. Apart from the Bihta project, the development of greenfield airports and expanding the capacity of the Patna airport are also envisaged as part of the Centre's push in Bihar.
The new airport, which will facilitate the operation of bigger aircraft, is likely to be ready by the end of 2026 and will aid in expanding the capacity of the existing Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport in Patna.
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, reports IE.
The airport in Bihta is set to boost air connectivity for Patna as well as the adjoining districts of Bhojur, Saran and Buxar. As per the Centre's plan, 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.
Greenfield airports are built on undeveloped land while a brownfield airport is built on an existing airport infrastructure, such as runways and terminals.
The development comes just ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the state on Monday where he will address a rally in Bhagalpur, virtually kicking off the NDA's campaign in the state. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will be present alongside the PM at the rally.
Assembly elections are due in Bihar in October-November this year and the NDA is hopeful of retaining power in the state. On the other hand, the Rashtriya Janata Dal, which had emerged as the single largest party in the 2020 polls, says it is confident of returning to power.
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