Darbhanga airport gets CISF cover as govt expands aviation network in state

Darbhanga: The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) on Thursday formally took charge of security at Darbhanga airport with the deployment of 145 personnel, marking a major step in strengthening aviation security in North Bihar.

CM Samrat Choudhary, CISF director general Praveer Ranjan and senior state and civil aviation officials attended the handover ceremony. Calling it a “historic day”, Samrat said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had advised that programmes should increasingly be conducted through videoconferencing to save fuel and strengthen the country’s economy.

The CISF said Darbhanga airport was strategically important because of its proximity to the India-Nepal border and emerging threats such as smuggling networks and drone activity in border areas. The airport functions as a civil enclave within an Indian Air Force station, making specialised aviation security essential.

The force has deployed quick response teams, bomb disposal squads and sniffer dog units trained in explosive detection. Darbhanga has become the third airport in Bihar to come under CISF protection after Patna and Gaya and the 72nd airport in the country under the force’s security cover.

Speaking at the event, Samrat termed Nitish Kumar the “architect of modern Bihar” and credited him for transforming connectivity in the state. Recalling his own experience, Samrat said in 2000 it took nearly eight hours to travel from Patna to Jaynagar, but improved roads had drastically reduced travel time.

He said air connectivity in Bihar had expanded nearly tenfold. “In 2005, around five lakh people travelled by air. Today, nearly 50 lakh passengers use air services, and the target is to increase this to 4-5 crore travellers in the next five years,” Samrat said.

He added that tenders had been floated for airports in Muzaffarpur, Raxaul, Saharsa and Birpur, while Purnea airport had already become operational. Airports, airstrips and helipads would also be developed depending on local requirements, he said.

Darbhanga MP Gopal Ji Thakur described the airport as a “blessing” for north Bihar, while JD(U) leader Sanjay Jha said Darbhanga stood out among regional airports because of its consistently high passenger traffic and growing connectivity with metro cities.

(With PTI inputs)