Parliament Question: Passenger congestion and connectivity constraints at Patna airport

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO : 981 th (TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 9 February 2026) PASSENGER CONGESTION AND CONNECTIVITY CONSTRAINTS AT PATNA AIRPORT 981. SHRI AKHILESH PRASAD SINGH Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION be pleased to state:- (a) whether Jay Prakash Narayan International airport at Patna, is experiencing congestion due to rising passenger traffic and limited terminal capacity; (b) whether assessments have been conducted regarding peak-hour congestion, apron capacity and passenger amenities; (c) the status of expansion or modernisation works undertaken at the airport during the last three years; and (d) the steps taken to enhance air connectivity, passenger comfort and operational efficiency at Patna airport in view of its strategic importance for the State of Bihar? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION (Shri Murlidhar Mohol) (a) to (d): In order to cater to rising passenger traffic, a new Terminal Building with a peak hour passenger handling capacity of 3000 passengers and an annual passenger handling capacity of 10 million passengers (10 MPPA) was commissioned in June 2025. Recently, the existing apron has been expanded from 6 to 11 parking bays including operationalisation of five Passenger Boarding Bridges. In addition to above, during the last three years, several infrastructure upgradation works have been completed at Patna Airport, which include, construction of a New ATC Cum Technical Block, New Fire Station, Cargo Building, Multi-Level Car Parking (MLCP) facility and enhancement of check-in facilities to 64 counters. To enhance passenger comfort, modern passenger facilitation infrastructure, such as free Wi-Fi, mobile charging points, laptop workstations, an executive lounge, parking facilities, baggagewrapping and ATMs, has been made operational at the airport. As regards air connectivity, with the repeal of the Air Corporation Act in March 1994, the Indian domestic aviation has been deregulated. Airlines are free to induct capacity with any aircraft type, free to select whatever markets and network/route they wish to service, depending on their commercial and operational feasibility. *****