Dedicated committee formed for Patna airport's runway expansion: Ravi Shankar Prasad

Patna: Patna Saheb MP and former Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Monday said a dedicated committee has been constituted to examine the feasibility of expanding the runway at Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport.Chairing a meeting of the Airport Advisory Committee (AAC), Prasad said the panel will assess the land offered on both sides of the airport—towards the western side near the railway line and on the eastern side near Patna Zoo—and submit its report at the earliest. He underlined the urgency of the project, noting that the airport handles around 40 lakh passengers annually with 44 flights operating every day.The MP said both the Centre and the Bihar govt were extending full cooperation for the proposed expansion. He added that he had held discussions with deputy CM Samrat Choudhary, who assured complete support from the state govt.Prasad said the Bihar govt was willing to offer financial incentives and rebates to airlines to encourage international flights from Patna to destinations such as Kathmandu, Bangkok and Dubai. “This will spare passengers the inconvenience of travelling to Delhi, Kolkata or Mumbai for international travel,” he said.Stressing the need for time-bound execution, Prasad said the runway expansion must be completed expeditiously and within defined timelines. He also appreciated initiatives taken at the airport, including promotion of local cultural products through retail outlets and the UDAN Yatri Café, and expressed hope that such efforts would be further strengthened to support local artisans.The AAC chairman also emphasised coordinated efforts among all stakeholders to improve passenger experience, enhance safety and further strengthen airport infrastructure and services. Discussions during the meeting covered issues related to passenger amenities, runway safety, transport connectivity and concerns in areas surrounding the airport.The meeting was attended by Digha MLA Sanjeev Chaurasia, Patna DM Thiyagarajan S M, Patna Municipal Corporation commissioner Yashpal Meena, airport director Chandra Pratap Dwivedi, representatives of airlines, CISF and Airports Authority of India, apart from senior police officers and nominees from trade, hotel and tourism sectors.