The construction of a new terminal at the Patna airport is to get started, which will increase the airport’s capacity to handle eight million passengers annually, as compared to nearly 5 million currently, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Thursday. With the investment of Rs 1200 crore, the construction of the new terminal at the Patna airport is being undertaken by the Airports Authority of India, he said.

“LNJP (Lok Nayak Jay Prakash Narayan) Airport in Patna, which currently handles 4.53 million passengers per annum, is all set for further upgradation & expansion,” Puri tweeted.

Also Read | Revenues of Indian airlines fell by 85.7% in April-June period due to COVID-19: Hardeep Puri

The civil aviation minister said the new terminal will increase the airport’s handling to passengers to eight million annually. He added that LNJP airport is the fastest growing airports in India.

He also added that flights will become operational at the newly-constructed Darbhanga airport from early-November, before the famous Chhath festival. Puri added that a new civil enclave with a terminal building is also being built at the Darbhanga airport at a cost of Rs 90 crore by the AAI.

The bookings of flights to Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru from Darbhanga have started partially from September 20. Spicejet, the selected airline operator, will start operating flights from November 8.