Bihar is set to receive air connectivity for 10 of its cities under the Centre’s UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) scheme. Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary announced that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the UDAN 5.2 scheme, connecting Birpur (Supaul), Saharsa, Rajgir, Bhagalpur, Munger, Muzaffarpur, Valmiki Nagar (Bettiah), Motihari, Madhubani, and Chhapra, will soon be finalized.
Choudhary praised Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for driving this initiative and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for implementing the programme to boost air services to underserved areas. The plan includes introducing 20-seater aircraft and developing airports in these cities, with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) handling civil enclave management, fire safety, security, and passenger services.
The central government has begun a feasibility study for these air services and is awaiting approval from the state for land availability. Once confirmed, commercial flights will commence, and the civil enclave will be constructed. The state government is expected to finalize the decision soon.
This announcement follows the successful operation of Darbhanga airport, which launched under the UDAN scheme on November 8, 2020. Handling six to seven flights daily, Darbhanga airport has served over 23 lakh passengers. The government has allocated Rs 918 crore for expanding the airport’s terminal and amenities to accommodate growing passenger numbers.
