PM Modi Inaugurates New Terminal at Guwahati Airport

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 20 December inaugurated the new terminal building of Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi International Airport, Guwahati.

• He also unveiled an 80-foot statue of Gopinath Bardoloi, Assam’s first Chief Minister, outside the new terminal.
• The airport is named in honour of Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi, a key architect of modern Assam.

Key Features of the New Terminal

• Spread over nearly 1.4 lakh square metres.
• Designed to handle up to 1.3 crore passengers annually.
• Equipped with modern infrastructure to support growing air traffic in the Northeast.

Design Inspiration: ‘Bamboo Orchids’ Theme

• The terminal design reflects Assam’s biodiversity and cultural heritage.
• Inspired by:
  • ‘Kopou phool’ (foxtail orchid) – Assam’s iconic flower.
  • Indigenous bamboo varieties:
    • Bholuka bamboo from Assam
    • Apatani bamboo from Arunachal Pradesh
• Celebrates the ecological and cultural richness of the Northeast.

Project Cost and Strategic Vision

• Total project cost: ₹5,000 crore.
• Includes ₹1,000 crore earmarked for:
  • Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities.
• Aims to develop Guwahati airport as:
  • A key aviation hub for the Northeast.
  • A major gateway to Southeast Asia.

Boost to Connectivity and Growth

• Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the airport will:
  • Strengthen Assam’s infrastructure.
  • Provide fresh momentum to regional connectivity.
  • Promote tourism and economic growth across the entire North-East.

Overall Significance

• Enhances air connectivity in the strategically important Northeast region.
• Supports India’s Act East Policy by improving links with Southeast Asia.
• Combines modern aviation infrastructure with local cultural identity.