On Thursday (29 May), Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially opened the new terminal building at Jayprakash Narayan International Airport in Patna.
He was joined by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Ram Mohan Naidu, during the inauguration ceremony.
The new terminal, built at a cost of about ₹1,200 crore, is designed to handle up to one crore passengers each year.
Spread across 65,155 square meters, the terminal is equipped with modern features, including 54 check-in counters, five aerobridges, eight X-ray baggage scanners, five luggage belts, a multi-level parking area, a VIP lounge, and a cafeteria.
“Patna airport gets a modern terminal building! This is great news for Bihar’s progress,” PM Modi shared in a post on X.
In addition to the terminal, the Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for a new civil enclave at Bihta Airport, a project valued at more than ₹1,410 crore.
The Bihta airport will support the growing needs of the nearby town, which is becoming known as an education hub, with institutions like IIT Patna and the planned NIT Patna campus located there.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said that this new terminal is a proud achievement for India’s expanding aviation sector.
“This new terminal is not just about advanced facilities—it also honors our cultural roots. Its walls are decorated with beautiful Madhubani paintings, proudly showing off Bihar’s rich heritage to everyone who visits,” he said.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar stated that both the new terminal and the upcoming Bihta airport will improve air travel and tourism in Bihar.
“These projects will help speed up the state’s economic and overall development,” he added.