Patna Airport Runway Expansion: Land Report Submitted to DM
The Patna Airport runway has always been a point of concern for the public and authorities. There has been a long-pending demand to increase its length, as it doesn’t meet the minimum requirements for several flights. The urgency for expansion has grown even more with the tragic Ahemdabad Plane Crash that took away 200+ lives. The current runway conditions make landings risky, therefore the Patna Airport Runway is expected to be extended by 700 meters.
A detailed report drafted by six senior officials was submitted to Patna’s District Magistrate Dr. Chandrashekhar Tygrajan. It includes crucial details on land mapping, site selection, changes that have to be made to expand the runway. Soon, the report is expected to be forwarded soon to the Bihar government for final evaluation.
Here are all the details about the changes that will be made to Patna Zoo and the nearby areas for expanding the length of runway at the Patna airport.
Table of Contents
Why Patna Airport Runway Expansion Was Urgent?
Jayaprakash Narayan International Airport in Patna was always flagged for its short runway length. Multiple aviation safety reports from DGCA and AAI have raised concerns over this. Mainly, large aircrafts struggle with landing here especially during emergencies.
The current length of the Patna airport runway is 2072 metres which is insufficient and very risky for landings. Other critical issue is the 3.5-degree glide path. As per the international standards, 3° is optimal. This aggravates the landing risks even further. The airport runway limits the aircrafts from night landings or low-visibility operations.
Land Required for Patna Airport Runway Extension
As per the submitted report, a total of 700 metres of extra land is needed. Out of this, 500 m lie on the eastern side and the rest 200 m on the western side. This proposal even includes the areas currently used in government offices, residential buildings, and parts of the Patna Zoo.
The report highlights changes needed to extend the boundary and the areas to be demolished. The surroundings and the nearby areas to the Patna airport will be affected significantly.
Major Impact on Patna Zoo
The land from Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park, commonly known as Patna Zoo will also be used in the expansion. This is a sensitive area among all other regions which have been marked for demolition. The east wise extension of the Patna Airport runway will be taking away 15 acres of land from Patna zoo which will affect the given :
- The Zoo Director’s office
- Half of the lake
- The fish house
- More than 600 trees
The area starts before Gate No. 2 of the zoo and stretches to Pir Ali Path. The major portion of the area includes crucial ecological assets, so, environmental clearance from the Forest and Environment Department is mandatory.
Western Side Expansion
The 200-meter extension on the western side would be comparatively easier. The land here is mostly open and has a few government-built structures. So this would not pose a major challenge during the land acquisition process. But still, the proposal will need clearance and swift action from the authorities.
This along with the east-side extension is important to get the desired length that will be suitable for larger aircrafts.
Clock Tower Height Reduction Proposed
The report also highlights the need to reduce the height of the Secretariat Clock Tower. Currently the height is 49.5 metres. It obstructs the path of the flights so the officials are suggesting to decrease its length to at least 17.5 metres. This will help in achieving the International standard of 3-degree glide slope.
Cabinet Secretariat’s Approval Needed
The detailed report has been reviewed by the Patna’s DM. But final approval rests with the Bihar Cabinet Secretariat. First, the cabinet will review all the land ownership issues, ecological impact and public sentiments because making changes to the Patna zoo and heritage sites will not be welcomed.
Importantly, a NOC (No Objection Certificate) from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) will also be required for the final approval and land acquisition. This will also need approvals from aviation authorities like DGCA and AAI.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Patna Airport runway expansion will need approval from multiple authorities. Public sentiment will also play a major role in this. But if the report is approved, this could be the turning point for Bihar’s Air connectivity.
I’m a final-year engineering student with a deep interest in current affairs, politics, and international issues. Writing news is my part-time passion, where I focus on sharing credible and well-researched stories. Every article I publish is backed by verified sources and multiple levels of fact-checking to ensure accuracy and trustworthiness.
