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Patna,(BiharTimes): After much dilly-dallying the Bihar government at last decided to transfer 6.37 acres of land to Jayaprakash Narayan International airport.
The Bihar cabinet on Tuesday gave its nod to transfer 6.37 acres of land owned by the state home (special) department to the Airports Authority of India (AAI). It was seven years ago that the AAI sought land for the expansion of the Patna airport.
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The state government initially expressed its reluctance to transfer land. Then it proposed several alternative sites, most prominently, Silao in Nalanda district. But finally it agreed to allot land in Patna itself.
The state government was widely criticized for its attitude by the air passengers and in private by several AAI authorities.
Talking to reporters after a cabinet meeting additional secretary (cabinet coordination department) Vinod Prasad Singh said the land would be transferred to the AAI for Rs 114.66 crore. The land, adjacent to the city airport, is currently used by the Special Task Force.
There was acute space constraint not only inside the terminal building but also outside with the runway length being inadequate for safe and smooth landing and take-off of big aircraft. The AAI has in the past requested the government to consider shifting the adjacent state hangar, IAS Bhavan and Bihar Flying Club so that the land could be used for a new terminal building.
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