Patna: Darbhanga is set to become Bihar’s first fully recognized international airport, as the state government has officially requested the Ministry of Civil Aviation to grant it international status. Sources indicate that chief secretary Pratyaya Amrit has submitted the proposal, representing a significant advancement in the state’s aviation infrastructure. This initiative arises from ongoing restrictions on Patna Airport’s international operations. The sole international route from Patna—flights to Nepal—was halted following the hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight IC-814 in 1999, which diverted to Kandahar. Since that incident, Patna has maintained its international airport designation only nominally, lacking any active international flights.
Meanwhile, Gaya Airport provides direct services to various Asian locations, including Japan, Thailand, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka, mainly serving Buddhist pilgrimage routes, but it does not possess full international airport status according to current classifications. In India, airports are categorized into four types: international, domestic, customs, and defense. International airports accommodate both domestic and international flights and typically have greater operational capacity. There are approximately 29 international airports in India. Customs airports like Patna have restricted civilian traffic, focusing mainly on customs inspections, duty collection, and anti-smuggling efforts. Patna Airport is classified as a customs airport and necessitates the presence of customs and immigration officials, positions which are currently unfilled.
Progress is being made at Darbhanga Airport to achieve international standards. The runway, which currently measures 2,743 meters, is planned to be extended to 3,657 meters. For this expansion, 89.75 acres of land are being acquired at a cost of Rs 244.6 crore. The district administration in Darbhanga has also been requested to submit a proposal for a logistics park near the airport, indicating intentions to develop the region as an aviation and cargo hub. If approved, Darbhanga would be the first airport in Bihar to gain full international status, representing a significant achievement in the state’s connectivity and infrastructure development.
