This story is from January 16, 2020

Commercial flights from Darbhanga soon

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is gearing up to begin commercial flights from the Darbhanga airbase as the construction work on the terminal building and re-carpeting of the air strip is now in the final stage and is expected to be ready by March.
Commercial flights from Darbhanga soon
Representative image
PATNA: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is gearing up to begin commercial flights from the Darbhanga airbase as the construction work on the terminal building and re-carpeting of the air strip is now in the final stage and is expected to be ready by March.
According to AAI sources in Patna, final touches are being given to the civil enclave, which can accommodate 200 passengers at peak hour.
“Flight operations at Darbhanga airbase will likely begin in next couple of months after all arrangements are put in place,” sources said. The flight operations were earlier scheduled to begin in December, 2019.
Darbhanga will be the first airport in Bihar under the Centre’s ambitious UDAN scheme aimed at improving regional connectivity.
Patna airport director Bhupesh CH Negi told this newspaper that Darbhanga airbase is ready for commercial flights and two more months are need to arrange for basic passenger amenities at the civil enclave. “The bidding process for the required facilities to run the commercial airport has been completed,” Negi said.
“Basic facilities such as ticket counters, CCTV cameras, help desk, installation of baggage X-ray machine, check-in and boarding counters, arrival and departure display boards, signage and transit parking among others, are yet to be put in place,” Negi said.
He added: “The airport operations would be handled by the AAI and the security will be provided by the state government.”
Around 70 security personnel were trained to manage passengers in Patna last month. The training session was conducted by the Bureau of Civil Aviation.

The 15,000sq feet terminal building has been built at an estimated cost of Rs 92 crore. There will be six check-in counters and two aprons. The foundation for the civil enclave at Darbhanga was laid by chief minister Nitish Kumar on December 24, 2018.
Private airline SpiceJet has been selected to operate under the UDAN scheme. It will operate three flights connecting Darbhanga to Bengaluru, New Delhi and Mumbai.
Once the flight operations begin, it will benefit northern Bihar districts, including Madhubani, Samastipur, Muzaffarpur, Begusarai, Bhagalpur, Jamui, Khagaria, Lakhisarai, Madhepura, Saharsa, Sheohar, Sitamarhi and Supaul, among other areas.
Darbhanga airbase will be the state’s third airport operating commercial flights. The state government has allotted Rs 121 crore to acquire 31 acres at Ranipur-Bihatwara area for construction of a new terminal building, cargo, parking space and other auxiliary facilities.
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About the Author
Faryal Rumi

She is working with the Times of India as a Senior Digital Content Creator on the Patna desk.

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