Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the new terminal at Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (LGBIA) in Assam. The airport was commissioned in under a year and was unveiled by the Prime Minister in February at Advantage Assam 2.0.

Operations are expected to commence by the end of February, with a comprehensive Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer (ORAT) programme—supported by an expert visiting team from Munich, Germany—ensuring that systems, processes, personnel, and passenger flows are aligned for a safe and seamless opening from day one.

The terminal has been named “The Bamboo Orchids”, drawing inspiration from Assam’s kopou phool (foxtail orchid) and indigenous bamboo varieties such as Bholuka bamboo from Assam and Apatani bamboo from Arunachal Pradesh.

The architecture reflects the Northeast’s ecological and cultural richness, with around 140 metric tonnes of locally sourced bamboo from the region used across the terminal.

Placing the inauguration on Saturday in a larger national context, Modi described it as part of a wider Vikas ka Utsav unfolding across Assam and the Northeast. He said Assam is emerging as India’s eastern gateway under the Act East policy, with the terminal symbolising strength, sustainability, and the state’s growing role in powering Viksit Bharat as India advances towards becoming the world’s third-largest economy.

Commenting on the occasion, Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani Group, said, “The Guwahati terminal demonstrates how world-class airport infrastructure can be delivered swiftly while remaining deeply rooted in local identity. It will strengthen connectivity, support economic growth across the Northeast, and offer passengers a seamless, modern travel experience.”

Equipped with DigiYatra-enabled processing, smart check-in systems, and large passenger areas, the terminal is designed to handle 13.1 million passengers annually by 2032. In FY 2024–25, Guwahati Airport handled 6.50 million passengers, underscoring the region’s accelerating aviation demand. Currently, Guwahati ranks as the 10th busiest airport in India, serving as a critical hub for all eight Northeastern states.

The overall airport development represents an investment of ₹5,000 crore, including ₹1,000 crore earmarked for Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities. Planned integrated domestic and international cargo infrastructure will further strengthen trade, logistics, and employment generation across the region.

The Guwahati milestone forms part of a wider national aviation expansion led by AAHL, along with the scheduled operational launch of the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) on December 25.