Darbhanga airport expansion: IAF approves land acquisition

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has approved a 78-acre land acquisition for the expansion and development of the civil enclave at Darbhanga airport. Darbhanga airport began operating civilian flights from the IAF station runway on November 8 last year as part of the Centre’s regional connectivity scheme Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN). Darbhanga district magistrate Thiyagarajan SM confirmed the receipt of a letter from IAF authorities and said that the land parcel was already identified, and a proposal was sent to the state government on Wednesday for approval. The land acquisition has been hanging fire ever since Darbhanga airport was included in the UDAN scheme in January 2018. The state government had sanctioned Rs 121 cr on September 2, 2019, earlier for the acquisition of 31 acres of land to facilitate the construction of a permanent civil enclave at Darbhanga airport. Officials said that the Airport Authority of India (AAI) later revised the proposal, seeking 78 acres in view of operational success and potential of Darbhanga airport. Bihar’s minister of water resources, Sanjay Kumar Jha, tweeted that IAF has granted a no-objection certificate (NoC) for the expansion of Darbhanga airport and the state government will soon acquire the necessary land. Darbhanga MP Gopal Jee Thakur told the media that an estimate of about Rs 336 cr has been given for the acquisition of 78 acres of land for the Darbhanga airport expansion. Image Source Also read: Airport expansion likely to boost tourism in Aurangabad Also read: Tuticorin Airport expansion gets environmental clearance from govt