PATNA, March 12 -- The Airports Authority of India (AAI) on Wednesday invited tenders for upgrading and developing the existing airport at Birpur to enable operations of small aircraft under the regional connectivity scheme initiative.

The project aims to make the airport operational for "Code-2B" type aircraft - small 19-seater planes with a wingspan of 15 metres to less than 24 metres, typically used for short-haul regional flights for tourism and disaster and mitigation purposes. They can also be used by flight training organisations, said Nilesh Ramchandra Deore, special secretary in Bihar's civil aviation department.

"The Rs.36.38-crore project will be executed in an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) mode. It includes...