PM to inaugurate Patna airport new terminal building on May 29

Aviation regulator, the directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA), has given all requisite clearances to operationalise the new terminal building of the Jayprakash Narayan International (JPNI) airport, ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day visit to Bihar on May 29, said officials on Sunday.

- Ruchir Kumar

PATNA:

PM Modi will inaugurate the Patna airport's new integrated terminal building, built at a cost of ₹1,200 crore (approx), and lay the foundation stone for a new civil enclave at Patna's Bihta airport, approx 35 kms from the existing airport, during a simple programme between 5.45pm and 6pm, after he arrives from Hasimara in West Bengal by a special plane at 5.30pm on May 29, said officials.

The air operations will, however, commence from the new terminal building by June 5.

A battery of senior officers from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) headquarters in New Delhi and its regional headquarters in Kolkata will be camping in Patna from Monday.

The DGCA, believed to be slow and fastidious in according its nod due to safety concerns, gave three commissioning level clearances in a day on May 23.