Patna: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Interim Terminal Building at the New Civil Enclave in Purnea, giving the region direct access to the country’s aviation network. The new facility is expected to boost passenger capacity and open fresh avenues for tourism, business and employment in Seemanchal. “The launch of Purnea Airport does not merely mean easier air travel for the people of several surrounding districts, it will also provide a new identity to Seemanchal’s cultural heritage on a national and global stage, boost tourism in the region, attract investments, establish new industries, and create large-scale employment opportunities,” said Sanjay Jha, Rajya Sabha MP from Bihar.

With Purnea joining the network, Bihar’s other airports are also scaling up. Patna’s Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport is expanding through a new terminal that can handle up to 10 million passengers annually. Between 2014 and 2024, it served nearly 3 crore passengers, moved 83,000 tonnes of freight and recorded more than 24,000 annual aircraft movements, showing how rapidly air travel has grown in the state.

Bihta Airport, coming up with an investment of ₹1,413 crore, is planned to serve 50 lakh passengers a year. Its design draws from Bihar’s cultural legacies while adding modern aviation infrastructure. Darbhanga, operational since 2020 under the UDAN scheme, has already become a lifeline for North Bihar with flights to Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. In FY 2023-24 alone, more than 5 lakh passengers flew from the airport. Gaya, meanwhile, continues to connect pilgrims and international travellers to Bodh Gaya, strengthening its role as a cultural and spiritual bridge.

As Patna expands, Bihta prepares for takeoff, Darbhanga grows busier, Gaya welcomes global visitors and Purnea enters a new era, the state is steadily shifting from a reliance on trains and highways to becoming a vibrant aviation hub that links aspirations and opportunities to the wider world.

BI Bureau