Airports in Bihar Move Toward Progress with ₹190 Cr Funding For 7 New Terminals

Bihar news : The Central Government has allotted ₹190 crore for the development of seven small regional airports in Bihar. These airports are to be constructed under the UDAN scheme (Ude desh ka aam nagrik) which is aimed at providing affordable air-transportation facilities across all cities and towns of India.

Let’s breakdown all the details about these airports and understand how Bihar’s air-transportation infrastructure is improving in the current scenario.

Bihar Gets Funds for Seven new Airports

As we know, Bihar currently has only three major  working airports in Patna, Gaya and Darbhanga but now the government is striving to improve the regional connectivity of the state.

Although in addition to these three major airports, Bihar has some other airports as well – in Purnia, Muzaffarpur and Raxaul but as of now, they are non-functional. The seven new airports will be constructed in the following places :

1. Madhubani
2. Purnia
3. Munger
4. Muzaffarpur
5. Valmikinagar (West Champaran)
6. Birpur (Supaul)
7. Saharsa

All these airports are a part of the broader vision of as per Bihar’s Budget 2025-26 in which the government is planning to construct 10 airports in the state.

As of now, each of these seven airports will be developed to handle small 20-seater planes under the UDAN scheme. The aim is to make air travel more affordable and accessible for people living in smaller towns and rural areas.

The UDAN scheme is a nice step not just for India’s regional air network, but especially for Bihar. The funds for these airports were approved and allocated during a high-level meeting headed by the Civil Aviation Secretary at Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan in New Delhi.

Funding Breakdown of These Bihar Airports

Now let’s breakdown how the sum of ₹190 crores is being distributed among these seven airports. As per the official news, while all the other six airports in Madhubani, Munger, Muzaffarpur, Valmikinagar, Birpur and Saharsa have been allocated the amount of ₹25 crore each, the Purnia Airport has received a special amount of ₹40 crore for its development. This is shown in a table below for better clarity :

Why Are These Airports Important for Bihar?

While a 20-seater aircraft might sound small or insignificant to some readers, we have to remember that small progress is still progress. And this move must be welcomed — especially for these places which were completely cut off from air routes earlier.

For decades, people living in districts like Saharsa, Munger, or Valmikinagar had to travel for hours just to reach the nearest airport or directly to the Patna airport. This was so tiring, time-consuming and expensive. But now with the development of these airports, the citizens will be able to avail air-transportation services from their own city, town or district. The hassle of traveling will be reduced.

Not just this, the proposed airports will also help the local economy. When there will be better connectivity, the economy will flourish. For example: Handicrafts from Madhubani, Makhana from Purnia, tourism in Valmikinagar etc. will grow faster if people and goods can move more easily.

PM Modi to lay Foundation Stone for Madhubani Airport

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has scheduled his visit to Madhubani on 24 April 2025. During this visit, he will also lay the foundation stone for the new airport in Madhubani. This clearly shows that the government is serious about the development of these regional airports without much delays.

This airport in Madhubani is special because Madhubani is getting its first-ever airport. Currently, the people have to depend heavily on Darbhanga Airport, which is already operating beyond its capacity.

This airport will also benefit the people living in towns like Jhanjharpur, Jaynagar, and also those living near the Nepal border. The new airport at Madhubani will help reduce that burden on the airport in Darbhanga and make the it more accessible for both domestic and foreign tourists.

Private Airlines Also Stepping In for Bihar’s Growth

Speaking of the Darbhanga airport, we can see that the overall air-transportation is developing at a fast pace. Recently, Akasa Air (private airlines) started its first direct flight from Delhi to Darbhanga on 4th April 2025. This flight also connects Darbhanga to Hyderabad. This is a big step forward as airports are being upgraded with new routes which gives more travel options to people.

Patna Airport’s New Terminal to be Inaugurated by PM Modi

While we’re talking about new airports, let’s not forget the state capital. Prime Minister Modi will also inaugurate a brand-new terminal at Patna Airport during his visit on 24 April 2025.

This new terminal at Patna’s Jay Prakash Narayan Airport will help in handling the increasing number of passengers and reduce overcrowding at the existing terminal. The new terminal will give a metro-city level experience to travelers.

Three Green field Airports in Bihar

Apart from the seven small airports, the government has announced plans of three major greenfield airports in Rajgir, Sultanganj, and Raxaul in the annual budget.

The developmental work has already been started for the airports. For the airport in Rajgir, around 200 acres of land has been marked, and the estimated cost is about ₹300 crore.

For the Greenfield airport in Sultanganj (in Bhagalpur district), about 855 acres of land has been marked and a total cost of ₹400 crore is estimated.

Meanwhile, the airport in Raxaul, near the India-Nepal border is technically a brownfield project, but it will see major upgrades like a greenfield airport.

Conclusion

With so many new airports being built, terminals getting upgraded, and private airlines joining in, we can say that Bihar is ready for Takeoff.

For a long time, the state was left behind in aviation, but now things are changing fast. Now, more people will have access to flights. And as a result, tourism, businesses, and local industries will all get a boost.

Thank you for reading this detailed news report on Bihar’s growth in the aviation sector.

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