Patna, Dec. 31: The logjam over the development of an alternative airport for Jayaprakash Narayan International Airport, Patna, does not seem to be easing with the continuous refusal of the state government to bear the cost of land acquisition for the same.

Water resources minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary in a national conference on civil aviation policy on Tuesday assured the Centre that the state is ready to provide land either at Bihta (Patna) or Silao (Nalanda) for developing the alternative airport for Patna.

However, in doing so, he refused to commit that the state would bear the cost for the same but left the option of 'cost-sharing' open for Airports Authority of India (AAI) in acquiring land for the purpose.

According to practice across the country, the state bears the cost of land acquisition, and the AAI looks after development, maintenance and operation of the airport.

The option of developing the alternative airport at Silao, which was favoured by former chief minister Nitish Kumar, seems difficult with the state's persistence to provide only 1,200 acres of land there, whereas the AAI has been demanding 4,800 acres. Bihta airbase, on the other hand, has already been preferred by AAI and even the Air Force has given its approval to commence civil operation there.

Civil aviation directorate sources said the development of airport at Silao is not a feasible option. 'It would be quite difficult to acquire 4,800 acres of agriculture land at Silao, especially under the context of new land acquisition policies. At Bihta, on the other hand, the Air Force has already given its approval to hand the existing airbase to AAI for civil operations. In return, they are asking for defense operations from Gaya International Airport,' said a senior official in civil aviation directorate.