Deoghar International Airport – Deoghar Airport is the second international airport in Jharkhand state after the Birsa Munda International Airport, Ranchi. In this post, we have shared detailed information about all incoming and outgoing flights, including their timetables, at Deoghar Airport.
Deoghar Airport Flight Schedule
Currently only IndiGo is providing direct service to and from Deoghar Airport.
| To / From | Arrival DGH | Departure DGH | Duration | Week Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi (DEL) | 12:50 | 13:20 | 1:58 | All |
| Kolkata (CCU) | 11:25 | 14:15 | 1:03 | All |
| Patna (PAT) | 13:55 | 11:45 | 0:58 | SUN, MON, WED, FRI |
| Ranchi (IXR) | 13:55 | 11:45 | 0:55 | TUE, THU, SAT |
Deoghar Airport – Background | The Timeline
The need for a new airport in Deoghar was ideated long back due to the strategic importance of the region; however, it started taking shape in 2013. Now Deoghar Airport is fully operational from July 2022.
Let’s know the timeline and the update of Deoghar International Airport:
Mar 2013 – The Jharkhand government had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) in 2013 to develop the airport, to promote religious tourism in the state.
Sep 2015 – Airports Authority of India (AAI) chairman R K Srivastava and Jharkhand’s chief secretary Rajiv Gauba met with Deoghar District officials to discuss land acquisition for the proposed airport at Kunda.
Nov 2015 – India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation confirmed it received a modernization proposal for the proposed Deoghar Airport, seeking land acquisition and airport development through a special purpose vehicle.
Nov 2016 – India’s Minister of State for Civil Aviation advised an MoU has been signed between the Indian Government, Jharkhand Government and the Ministry to develop Kunda Deoghar Airport. Jharkhand Government already commenced steps to acquire 603.8 acres of land required for the project.
Mar 2017 – Airports Authority of India, the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), and the Jharkhand Government signed a tripartite MoU for the development of Deoghar Airport to expand and upgrade the airport to handle A320 and C-130 operations. Jharkhand Government acquired 600.3 acres for airport expansion, adding to the existing 53.4-acre site. The land will be handed over to AAI. The airport will be developed and go into operation over a two-year period.
Sep 2017 – Airports Authority of India (AAI) plans to develop Kunda Deoghar Airport for joint civil aviation up to A320 aircraft and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) use, estimated to require a fixed cost investment of Rs. 401.32 Crore (INR 4.01 billion or USD62.54 million), to be provided by DRDO, the Jharkhand State Government and AAI.
Jan 2018 – India’s Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha stated that construction works to develop Kunda Deoghar Airport have commenced. Mr. Sinha said the project would require an investment of more than Rs. 200 Crore (INR 2 billion or USD31.4 million) and construction works are expected to be complete by 2020.
28-May 2018 – Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Kunda Deoghar Airport development project. The project is a joint venture (JV) between the AAI and the Jharkhand State Government.
Jan 2019 – Jharkhand’s Chief Minister Raghubar Das reported construction works for the development of Kunda Deoghar Airport are expected to be completed by Feb-2020.
Sep 2020 – India’s Minister of State for Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri announced that the Airport is expected to record the launch of services in early Nov-2020.
Jun 2021 – India’s Minister of State for Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri again announced that Kunda Deoghar Airport would be completed and commissioned soon, as it already got delayed due to the ongoing pandemic.
Sep 2021 – Inauguration of Deoghar airport approach road by the opposition party, BJP, and named after PM Narendra Modi.
April 2022 – Licence Issued by Director General of Civil Aviation- DGCA. Initial permission is given for Domestic Flights for the daytime only. Night Flights and International Flights permission will be granted in the coming days.
7th June 2022 – On 7th June, the landing and take-off trail is conducted successfully by 180 seater IndiGo Flight.
2nd July 2022 – Flight Booking has been started for Deoghar Airport (DGH).
12th July 2022 – Inauguration of Deogahr Airport by PM Sri Narendra Modi Ji.
Kunda Airport Expansion
Kunda Airport Deoghar has been proposed to develop as a commercial airport based on an existing airstrip in Kunda.
Airports Authority of India (AAI) proposed to upgrade the airport at a cost of INR 400 Crore. The main purpose of the expansion is the non-military use of A-320 category aircraft from Kunda Airport.
The upgrade includes:
- An extension of the existing runway to 2,500 m (8,200 ft) long and 45 m (148 ft) wide.
- Construction of a 4,000 square-meter (43,000 sq ft) terminal building.
- A mobile air traffic control.
- Apron with parking capacity for two A320 aircraft.
- Taxiways and an isolation bay.
- The terminal building with six check-in counters.
- Peak hour handling capacity for 200 passengers.
- Two baggage arrivals conveyor belts.
- Solar power system
The current 53.41 acre airport will be expanded to a 654.10 acre full-fledged facility for air travel.
The Jharkhand government and AAI will contribute Rs.50 crore each for the project, while the DRDO will contribute Rs.200 crore.
Excluding the existing 53.41 acre land, the remaining 600.69 acre land will be given to the AAI on a lease of 30 years for Re. 1 per year. The Jharkhand government has already transferred 635.97 acres of the land to AAI.
The state acquired 437.70-acre land for this purpose and a sum of Rs.426.66 crore has been given as compensation to landowners.
Benefits of Deoghar Airport for Locals and Nearby
As Deoghar is situated in the North-Eastern side of the state hence the airport will have a wide catchment area including Northern West Bengal and South-Eastern Bihar.
Deoghar International Airport was a long-demand of locals in the region. Once operational, the airport is set to cut the travel time of passengers. As of now, the two main airports serving the two states are in Patna and Ranchi. It takes almost 8 to 10 hours by road to reach Deoghar from Patna or Ranchi.
This will not only help the devotees and pilgrims who come to Baidhyanth Dham darshan but also help all the passengers from nearby districts.
With the commissioning of Deoghar Airport, there will be a lot of convenience for the patients who will be undergoing treatment in AIIMS Deoghar. The movement of patients in air service will increase.
The development of this airport is expected to give a boost to local tourism and will generate employment, as a large part of the local population depends on tourism for its livelihood. The development of Deoghar Airport would also improve the overall economic development of the region.
Features And Facilities In Deoghar Airport
With environment-friendly architectural design and state-of-the-art passenger facilities, the terminal building will be a composite structure.
The interiors will depict local tribal arts, handicrafts, and pictures of local tourist destinations highlighting the culture of the region.
An aerocity will be constructed close to the airport for staff and crew members, through a joint venture of the state government and the Airports Authority of India.
The entire municipal area has been divided into seven color-coded zones. In the red category, no civil work can take place without the prior approval of AAI. In the yellow zone, the maximum height of a building has been capped at 265 meters above the mean sea level, 275 meters in the pink zone, 285 meters in the grey zone, 295 meters in the blue zone, 325 meters in the orange zone, 355 meters in the green zone and 385 meters in the light blue zone. Any kind of construction will now have to abide by these restrictions and due clearances from AAI and civic bodies as and where needed.
Also Read: AIIMS Deoghar
Other Airports in Jharkhand
Here is a list of all Jharkhand Airports:
| Airport Name | Airport Code | Category | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birsa Munda Airport, Ranchi | IXR | International | Operational |
| Atal Bihari Vajpai International Airport, Deoghar | DGH | International | Operational |
| Sonari Airport, Jamshedpur | IXW | Domestic | Operational |
| Bokaro Airport, Bokaro | — | Private | Operational |
| Chakulia Airport, Chakulia | — | Defence | Closed |
| Dhanbad Airport, Dhanbad | DBD | Domestic | Not Operational |
| Dumka Airport / Sido Kanhu Airport, Dumka | — | Domestic | Operational (Not for Public) |
| Dhalbhumgarh Airport, Jamshedpur | — | Domestic | Future Plan |
Airports Near Deoghar
The closest international airport is Kolkata and there are daily international flights from New Delhi and Kolkata. And the closest domestic airport is Patna.
Other closest airports to Baba Baidynath Dham, Deoghar are below:
| Airport Name | Airport Code | Distance From Deoghar | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lok Nayak Jaiprakash Airport, Patna | PAT | 255 Km | Domestic |
| Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport, Durgapur | RDP | 168 Km | Domestic |
| Birsa Munda Airport, Ranchi | IXR | 250 Km | International |
| Netaji Subhash Chanda Bose Airport, Kolkata | CCU | 320 Km | International |
FAQs Related To Deoghar Airport
1. When Deoghar Airport Will be Operational?
Deoghar Airport is fully operational now. It has been inaugurated by PM Sri Narendra Modi on 12th July 2022.
2. What Is The Name of Deoghar Airport?
Deoghar Airport (ICAO: IN-0090) is named after our former prime minister, late Sir Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Its new name is Atal Bihari Vajpayee International Airport, Deoghar. However, Locals are in favour of renaming it Baba Baidyanath Airport.
3. What Will be Deoghar Airport Flight Schedules?
Air India and other airline services will offer flights from all major cities including -Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Bengaluru.
Private Airlines- Indigo has already started flight services from 12th July 2022 onwards.
4. What is Deoghar Airport Code?
Deoghar Airport Code is DGH
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