Patna, Aug 18 (Reporter) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday directed the authorities to start the construction work at Bihta International Airport as soon as possible. After inspecting the spot in Bihta on Sunday, Kumar said that his government was interested in completing the construction work quickly for the convenience of commuters. He said that after the completion of Bihta Airport, connectivity would improve and the extra pressure on Patna Airport would be minimised. The new airport would also provide employment opportunities for the local people, he added. During inspection, the officer of Bihta Air Base informed the chief minister about the details of the facilities and services to be available at the airport, for which the state government has already provided 108 acres of land, and approval for providing an additional 8 acres of land has been given. As it stands, the Union government has approved the proposal of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for the development of a new civil enclave at Bihta, Patna, Bihar, at an estimated cost of Rs 1413 crore. The proposed New Integrated Terminal Building at Bihta Airport spans 66,000 sqm and is designed to handle 3000 Peak Hour Passengers (PHP) and annually cater to 50 lakh passengers. This will be further expanded by another 50 lakh whenever it is required, and the ultimate capacity would be one crore passengers per year. Key components of the project include the construction of an Apron capable of accommodating 10 parking bays suitable for A-321/B-737-800/A-320 type aircraft, as well as two link taxiways. This infrastructure project represents a strategic move to address the anticipated saturation of capacity at Patna Airport. While AAI is already in the process of constructing a new terminal building at Patna Airport, further expansion is constrained by limited land availability...////...