Bihar Cabinet Approves Sonepur International Airport Project and ₹1,302 Crore Land Acquisition Allocation

Key facts

• The Bihar state cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister (CM) Nitish Kumar, approved the construction of an international airport at Sonepur in Saran district.
• The proposed airport will feature a 4,200-metre runway designed to handle wide-body aircraft, including the Airbus A380.
• The project is spread over 4,228 acres and is targeted for completion by the year 2030.
• The Bihar government has allocated ₹1,302 crore for the land acquisition process for the airport, which will be developed in the area between Hajipur and Dumaria.
• The Union Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has granted site clearance and in-principle approval for the project, which was also mentioned in the Union Budget.
• The state cabinet sanctioned ₹70 crore for anti-erosion work along an embankment between Ismailpur and Bindtoli in Bhagalpur district.
• Bihar currently has operational airports at Jayprakash Narayan International Airport in Patna, as well as in Gaya, Darbhanga, and Purnia.
• A total of 35 proposals from various departments were approved during the cabinet meeting.