Airport – Bihar Cabinet Clears Plan for Sonepur International Hub
Airport – The Bihar Cabinet has given the green light for the construction of a Greenfield international airport in Sonepur, a town in Saran district, marking one of the state’s most ambitious infrastructure decisions in recent years.
The proposal was cleared during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, where a total of 35 agendas were approved. Among them, the airport project stood out for its scale and long-term impact on regional connectivity and economic growth.
Location and Land Acquisition Plan
The proposed airport will be built in the Dariyapur Chanwar area, situated between Hajipur and Dumaria. The state government has earmarked nearly 4,200 acres of land for the project. To move the plan forward, the Cabinet has sanctioned Rs 1,302 crore for land acquisition.
Officials confirmed that the process has been expedited following the project’s mention in the recent Union Budget. With administrative approval now in place, groundwork related to land procurement is expected to begin soon. The government has set a target to complete the airport by 2030.
Infrastructure Designed for Large Aircraft
Authorities have indicated that the airport will feature advanced aviation infrastructure. One of the key highlights will be its ability to accommodate wide-body aircraft, including the Airbus A380, currently among the largest passenger planes operating globally.
The airport layout includes two parallel runways, each measuring 4,200 meters in length. If executed as planned, this configuration will place Sonepur Airport among the largest aviation facilities in India in terms of runway capacity.
Among India’s Largest Airports
Once operational, the Sonepur airport is expected to become the fifth largest in the country, following major aviation hubs such as Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad, Navi Mumbai International Airport, and Noida International Airport at Jewar.
With this addition, Sonepur will also join the list of Greenfield airports developed across the country. It will be the 24th Greenfield airport project in India, reflecting the Centre and state governments’ broader push to expand aviation infrastructure beyond metropolitan regions.
Political and Public Response
The announcement has drawn a positive response from political leaders in the region. Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Member of Parliament from Saran and a former Union minister, welcomed the Cabinet’s decision. He described the approval as a long-awaited step that addresses a longstanding demand of residents in north Bihar.
Local stakeholders believe the airport could significantly strengthen connectivity for districts across north Bihar, reducing travel time to major cities and improving access to national and international destinations.
Boost to Regional Connectivity
The development is being viewed as a strategic move to enhance transportation infrastructure in a region that has historically relied on road and rail networks. Improved air connectivity is expected to open up opportunities for trade, tourism, and investment in surrounding districts.
Experts note that large-scale infrastructure projects such as international airports often act as catalysts for urban expansion, logistics growth, and employment generation. While construction is still in its early stages, the Cabinet’s approval marks a critical first milestone in turning the vision into reality.
If completed within the proposed timeline, the Sonepur International Airport could reshape the aviation landscape of eastern India and strengthen Bihar’s position in the country’s expanding air travel network.