Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Tuesday, 21 July 2026 announced a significant milestone in the development of Birpur Airport, stating that the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has floated tenders worth a combined Rs 64.80 crore to upgrade the airport for Code-2B category aircraft operations under the RCS-UDAN scheme, with work on one of the two packages already awarded to a contractor.

Context

In a post on X, CM Choudhary described the development as 'एक और महत्वपूर्ण उपलब्धि' (another important achievement) in the journey towards upgrading Birpur Airport. The first tender, worth Rs 28.42 crore, covers the development of a runway, taxiway, apron, and other essential airside infrastructure. A second tender of Rs 36.38 crore, issued on 10 March 2026, covering a pre-fabricated terminal building, a pre-engineered ATC tower, a pre-engineered fire station, and other airport buildings, has already been awarded to a contractor.

Together, the two packages represent a total planned investment of Rs 64.80 crore in Birpur Airport, located in the Kosi region of north Bihar.

Policy Backdrop

The upgrades are being executed under the RCS-UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) scheme, launched by the Ministry of Civil Aviation in 2016 to connect underserved and unserved airports through viability gap funding and airline incentives. The scheme has been central to the central government's push to integrate tier-2 and tier-3 cities into the national aviation network.

Bihar has seen parallel airport investments at Darbhanga, Gaya, and Patna as part of the same regional connectivity drive. The Birpur project extends this push into the historically flood-prone and economically underdeveloped Kosi belt, which has long lacked reliable transport links.

Stakeholders and Impact

The Kosi region, encompassing districts such as Supaul and Saharsa, stands to be the primary beneficiary. The area has historically suffered from poor physical connectivity, compounding the economic impact of recurring floods. Air access is expected to open new avenues for commerce, healthcare access, and administrative reach.

CM Choudhary stated in his post that the investment would 'strengthen air connectivity in the Kosi region and give new momentum to the socio-economic development of the area.' Local businesses and residents who currently depend on road and rail links to reach major cities could gain significantly from direct air services once operations begin.

What's Next

With the Rs 36.38 crore terminal and buildings package already awarded, attention now turns to the award of the Rs 28.42 crore airside infrastructure tender and the timelines for runway and terminal completion. Once construction milestones are met, AAI and the Ministry of Civil Aviation are expected to initiate RCS-UDAN flight bidding rounds to attract airline operators to Birpur. The pace of construction and subsequent airline interest will determine when residents of the Kosi belt can actually board a flight from their home region.