Bihar govt asks Centre to expedite Bihta airport construction work
ROADS & HIGHWAYS

Bihar govt asks Centre to expedite Bihta airport construction work

The Bihar government has asked the Centre to accelerate the construction work of a civil enclave at the Bihta airport, a defence aerodrome, which is to be built as an alternative to the Patna airport for commercial operations.

On Friday, Bihar’s chief secretary Amir Subhani wrote to the Union civil aviation secretary regarding this reminding him that the state government had transferred 108 acres of land at Bihta to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) on December 6, 2018. Yet, the government is to initiate work on the civil enclave at Bihta.

The state’s reply comes as a veiled rebuttal to Union civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya M Scindia, who said in Parliament on February 10 that the Bihar government requires to identify an alternate site for the development of a greenfield airport in case of non-availability of essential land at Bihta air base. Scindia had requested different states to render additional land for the development of greenfield airports.

State officials told the media that despite the transfer of land in 2018 and the development of a boundary wall, not much had been attained at the Bihta airport. The Public Investment Board (PIB) is yet to accord permission to the Rs 900-crore Bihta airport project.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), during the intervening period, had asked for additional land twice from the state government for the Bihta airport. It first asked for an additional 191 acres for extension of the existing runway from 8,400 feet to 12,000 feet. This, the government said, would boost the operation of wide-bodied aircraft without any passenger load restriction. Later, it sought another 8 acres for the development of the apron to augment operational needs for wide-bodied aircraft. The state government, yet, has not replied favourably to the Centre’s proposal so far.

MoCA authorities told the media that the PIB approval to the Bihta airport project was pending because the state government is yet to clear its stand on the Centre’s request for additional land for operational needs.

Image Source

Also read: AAI targets capital outlay of Rs 91k cr in airport sector

The Bihar government has asked the Centre to accelerate the construction work of a civil enclave at the Bihta airport, a defence aerodrome, which is to be built as an alternative to the Patna airport for commercial operations. On Friday, Bihar’s chief secretary Amir Subhani wrote to the Union civil aviation secretary regarding this reminding him that the state government had transferred 108 acres of land at Bihta to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) on December 6, 2018. Yet, the government is to initiate work on the civil enclave at Bihta. The state’s reply comes as a veiled rebuttal to Union civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya M Scindia, who said in Parliament on February 10 that the Bihar government requires to identify an alternate site for the development of a greenfield airport in case of non-availability of essential land at Bihta air base. Scindia had requested different states to render additional land for the development of greenfield airports. State officials told the media that despite the transfer of land in 2018 and the development of a boundary wall, not much had been attained at the Bihta airport. The Public Investment Board (PIB) is yet to accord permission to the Rs 900-crore Bihta airport project. The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), during the intervening period, had asked for additional land twice from the state government for the Bihta airport. It first asked for an additional 191 acres for extension of the existing runway from 8,400 feet to 12,000 feet. This, the government said, would boost the operation of wide-bodied aircraft without any passenger load restriction. Later, it sought another 8 acres for the development of the apron to augment operational needs for wide-bodied aircraft. The state government, yet, has not replied favourably to the Centre’s proposal so far. MoCA authorities told the media that the PIB approval to the Bihta airport project was pending because the state government is yet to clear its stand on the Centre’s request for additional land for operational needs. Image Source Also read: AAI targets capital outlay of Rs 91k cr in airport sector

Next Story
Technology

Building Faster, Smarter, and Greener!

Backed by ULCCS’s century-old legacy, U-Sphere combines technology, modular design and sustainable practices to deliver faster and more efficient projects. In an interaction with CW, Rohit Prabhakar, Director - Business Development, shares how the company’s integrated model of ‘Speed-Build’, ‘Smart-Build’ and ‘Sustain-Build’ is redefining construction efficiency, quality and environmental responsibility in India.U-Sphere positions itself at the intersection of speed, sustainability and smart design. How does this translate into measurable efficiency on the ground?At U..

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

Smart Roads, Smarter India

India’s infrastructure boom is not only about laying more kilometres of highways – it’s about building them smarter, safer and more sustainably. From drones mapping fragile Himalayan slopes to 3D machine-controlled graders reducing human error, technology is steadily reshaping the way projects are planned and executed. Yet, the journey towards digitisation remains complex, demanding not just capital but also coordination, training and vision.Until recently, engineers largely depended on Survey of India toposheets and traditional survey methods like total stations or DGPS to prepare detai..

Next Story
Real Estate

What Does DCPR 2034 Mean?

The Maharashtra government has eased approval norms for high-rise buildings under DCPR 2034, enabling the municipal commissioner to sanction projects up to 180 m on large plots. This change is expected to streamline approvals, reduce procedural delays and accelerate redevelopment, drawing reactions from developers, planners and industry experts about its implications for Mumbai’s vertical growth.Under the revised DCPR 2034 rules, buildings on plots of 2,000 sq m or more can now be approved up to 180 m by the municipal commissioner, provided structural and geotechnical reports are certified b..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?