4-decade wait over, flights to begin soon from Muzaffarpur’s Patahi Airport

Flight operations from Muzaffarpur’s Patahi Airport are set to begin soon, fulfilling a demand that had been pending for over four decades. Initially, 19-seater aircraft will operate from the airport. If the operations are successful, there is a possibility that services using larger aircraft may be introduced. The airport, located in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur district, is spread across 101 acres of land.

A three-member technical team comprising Senior GIS Analyst Ravindra Singh, Neeraj Singh, and Associate Consultant Team Leader R.R. Sharma has started the survey work. The team inspected the runway, field area, and aerodrome reference point. During the inspection, an indicator device used to detect wind direction was recovered from the bushes and reinstalled. The technical survey will continue for five days and will include further assessments at marked locations.

Based on the technical survey, a new digital map of the airport will be prepared. This will help in estimating the construction requirements for the runway, taxiways, parking area, terminal buildings, and other necessary infrastructure. The report will be submitted to the Airports Authority of India, the state government, and the central government for further action.

₹25 crore has already been sanctioned for the repair of the airport boundary wall and basic infrastructure. A temporary storage room is under construction. No land acquisition is required for the initial phase of operations. An MoU has also been signed between the Airports Authority of India and the Bihar government for 15 years to establish a training centre at the site. This centre will include taxiways, VIP lounge, parking, and office buildings.

Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Dr. Rajbhushan Chaudhary, has coordinated efforts at both the state and central levels to advance the project. He expressed satisfaction after the signing of the MoU and the initiation of survey work, calling it a “milestone” for the district. Once the airport becomes operational, residents of Muzaffarpur and surrounding regions will have direct air connectivity, reducing the need to travel to Patna or Darbhanga for flights.