‘Patna, Bihta airports to serve together'

Time of India

7 days ago

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Following heightened aviation safety concerns, Patna divisional commissioner Chandrashekhar Singh speaks to TOI's Sheezan Nezami about runway extension, infrastructure upgrades and long-term plans for Patna and Bihta airports.
Excerpts:
The recent plane crash in Ahmedabad raised safety concerns across airports in the country. We all know that Patna airport is considered one of the riskiest airports in India, especially due to its short runway. Is there any plan to extend it? If yes, how?
Yes, there is a plan to extend the runway. The airport authority has submitted a proposal. On the western side, 200x300 metres of govt land will be made available.
This land, although previously leased, is currently unused. The district magistrate is preparing a proposal for its transfer, which will be sent to the state cabinet.
Similarly, on the eastern side, 300x500 metres of land is being sought. This can be arranged by reallocating 15 acres from Patna coo. A proposal is being prepared for this as well. The zoo will be compensated with land from the Golf Club, which has around 102 acres.
An ideal golf course requires only 50 to 55 acres.
Once the airport is extended towards the zoo side (Gate No. 2), an underpass will be constructed to ensure mobility, replacing the existing road.
The clock tower at the Old Secretariat has long been considered a major threat to Patna airport. Will any concrete steps be taken?
The clock tower falls directly within the funnel zone, making the already short runway even less usable.
While 9,000 feet is the international standard, Patna's runway is only 6,800 feet and a further 400 feet cannot be used due to the tower's obstruction.
Landings at Patna occur at an angle of 3.15 to 3.50 degrees instead of the standard 3 degrees, causing aircraft to jolt upon landing. Reducing the tower's height would resolve these issues.
The airport authority has proposed a height reduction of 17.5 metres and a formal proposal will be sent to the cabinet.
The clock tower now serves only an aesthetic purpose from the British era, much like other old clock towers in various cities.
Apart from the clock tower, birds are said to pose a threat to Patna airport, especially due to the secondary garbage point in Gardanibagh, which attracts them.
A site in Yarpur has been sanctioned for relocating this garbage point and Patna Municipal Corporation is working towards this. By Aug 15, the Gardanibagh area will be cleared and may be repurposed by PMC as a yard.
Meat and fish shops along the lane from Chitkohra to Anisabad, also seen as risks, have already been shifted. The waterlogging on the airport's southern side near the railway line also draws birds. A major drainage project has been proposed there to address this.
What about the dense population surrounding the airport? Do buildings comply with regulations? Has there been a height survey? Also, what about encroachments in the vicinity?
Yes, a joint survey is carried out by the airport authority and the municipal corporation to monitor building heights, particularly within the funnel area.
During construction approval, the corporation checks height compliance, and any violations are acted upon. As for encroachments, we have already removed those at Kaushal Nagar.
Bihta airport is expected to serve as an alternative to Patna airport, yet progress seems slow. When can we expect it to be fully operational?
Work has commenced and the project is expected to be completed by 2027.
Will Patna airport shut down once Bihta airport becomes operational?
No, both airports will function simultaneously. In fact, air traffic demand is projected to grow significantly and both airports will be required to meet that future demand.