Patna: CM Samrat Choudhary on Tuesday urged the Union ministry of civil aviation to speed up the expansion and capacity enhancement of Patna airport’s runway, assuring full support from the state govt for the project.Chairing a high-level meeting at Lok Sevak Awas here with senior officials from the Union ministry of civil aviation and Bihar’s civil aviation department, Choudhary said the aviation sector in the state is witnessing rapid growth and must be strengthened with a long-term vision. He said Bihar aims to increase air connectivity tenfold over the next five years, calling it a key priority for the govt.The CM said the govt is preparing a district-wise roadmap to improve air connectivity across the state. He directed the civil aviation department to move quickly on a comprehensive plan focused on airport modernisation, stronger security systems and inclusive infrastructure development. According to him, Bihar has the potential to emerge as a regional aviation hub for eastern India and should be developed with that goal in mind.Emphasising the importance of Patna airport, Choudhary said work on runway expansion and capacity enhancement should be taken up without delay. He reiterated that the Bihar govt would provide full cooperation to the Centre in pushing the project forward.He also highlighted the importance of Darbhanga airport, saying that once it receives international airport status, the state will see a rise in international passenger traffic and broader aviation opportunities. He said Bihar should be developed into a leading civil aviation centre offering safe, seamless and sustainable connectivity.Choudhary noted that stronger air connectivity would have a direct impact on tourism, trade and overall economic activity in the state. He said improved aviation infrastructure would also create new employment opportunities and support regional development.During the meeting, Bihar civil aviation department secretary Nilesh Ramchandra Devre made a detailed presentation on ongoing discussions with the Union ministry. The presentation covered airport and airstrip development, modernisation plans, expansion of air connectivity, strengthening of security infrastructure and implementation of the UDAN scheme.Union civil aviation secretary Sameer Kumar Sinha shared suggestions on Patna airport’s runway expansion and capacity enhancement. The meeting also reviewed several major proposals, including granting international status to Darbhanga airport, Ajgaibinath Dham greenfield airport project, construction of a permanent civil enclave at Purnia airport, development of airports at Muzaffarpur, Valmiki Nagar, Saharsa and Birpur, prioritising Bihar under the revised UDAN scheme, adding more airports under UDAN, upgrading Forbesganj airport and improving state airstrips in line with technical standards.
