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Defence
Defence nod for pilot training institute at Darbhanga Airport, MP hails move
✍️ Hindustan Times
🗓 07 Nov 2026, 10:50 AM
👁 18
The Ministry of Defence has approved a pilot training institute at Darbhanga Airport in Bihar, and BJP MP Gopal Jee Thakur, chair of the airport advisory committee, called the decision a major milestone.
The Ministry of Defence has given formal approval for setting up a pilot training institute at Darbhanga Airport in Bihar. The decision paves the way for the airport to host a dedicated centre where aspiring pilots can receive training under defence standards.
Gopal Jee Thakur, the BJP Lok Sabha whip and chairman of the Darbhanga Airport advisory committee, hailed the clearance as a "significant milestone" for the region. He said the institute will boost local infrastructure and create new opportunities for youth in the state.
The approval aligns with the defence ministry's broader push to expand pilot training capacity across the country, reducing reliance on foreign training facilities. Officials expect the institute to eventually serve both civilian and military aviation needs, though detailed timelines for construction were not disclosed.
Stakeholders, including state officials and aviation experts, anticipate that the project will generate ancillary employment and stimulate economic activity around the airport, reinforcing Darbhanga's role as a growing aviation hub.
Gopal Jee Thakur, the BJP Lok Sabha whip and chairman of the Darbhanga Airport advisory committee, hailed the clearance as a "significant milestone" for the region. He said the institute will boost local infrastructure and create new opportunities for youth in the state.
The approval aligns with the defence ministry's broader push to expand pilot training capacity across the country, reducing reliance on foreign training facilities. Officials expect the institute to eventually serve both civilian and military aviation needs, though detailed timelines for construction were not disclosed.
Stakeholders, including state officials and aviation experts, anticipate that the project will generate ancillary employment and stimulate economic activity around the airport, reinforcing Darbhanga's role as a growing aviation hub.