Patna: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today opened Purnea airport in Bihar’s Seemanchal region and launched projects worth ₹36,000 crore. The development drive comes just months before the Assembly election, where Seemanchal remains a critical battleground.
Purnea now has the first airport in eastern Bihar, ending decades of demand from locals. Residents of Araria, Kishanganj, Purnia, Katihar, Bhagalpur, and Madhepura can finally access air travel without going to Patna, Gaya, or Darbhanga. Many earlier relied on Bagdogra in Bengal, which was closer. The airport is also expected to boost Seemanchal’s makhana and corn industries and could later expand into an international hub.
The Prime Minister also unveiled flood-control measures, a major issue that devastates the region every year. He flagged off a Vande Bharat train from Jogbani in Araria to Danapur in Patna and announced an Amrit Bharat train linking Bihar with Tamil Nadu. These projects will sharply improve regional connectivity.
Seemanchal’s 24 Assembly seats hold the key to Bihar politics. In 2020, the Mahagathbandhan won 10 seats, NDA secured nine, and AIMIM surprised with five. With Chief Minister Nitish Kumar present at the event, the NDA displayed unity. The Congress, however, dismissed the announcements as election-time promises.
