PM Modi on Friday inaugurated the newly built terminal at Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (LGBIA) in Guwahati, marking a major milestone in aviation infrastructure development in Northeast India.
The terminal, whose design was unveiled by PM Modi in February this year at the Advantage Assam 2.0 summit, has been completed and commissioned in under a year. Commercial operations are expected to begin by the end of February 2026, following a comprehensive Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer (ORAT) programme, supported by an expert team from Munich, Germany.
Developed by Guwahati International Airport Limited and operated by Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL), the terminal reflects a blend of modern infrastructure and regional cultural identity. Named “The Bamboo Orchids,” the structure draws inspiration from Assam’s kopou phool (foxtail orchid) and indigenous bamboo varieties from Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. Around 140 metric tonnes of locally sourced bamboo have been used in the terminal’s construction, making it one of India’s prominent examples of nature-inspired airport architecture.
Addressing the occasion, Prime Minister Modi described the inauguration as part of a broader “Vikas ka Utsav” underway in Assam and the Northeast. He highlighted Assam’s growing role as India’s eastern gateway under the Act East policy and said the new terminal symbolises sustainability, strength and the region’s contribution to the vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat’.
The terminal is equipped with DigiYatra-enabled passenger processing, smart check-in systems and expanded passenger facilities. It has been designed to handle 13.1 million passengers annually by 2032. In the financial year 2024–25, Guwahati Airport handled approximately 6.5 million passengers, reflecting rapid growth in air traffic demand from the region. The airport currently ranks as the 10th busiest in the country and serves as a critical aviation hub for all eight Northeastern states.
The overall airport development involves an investment of ₹5,000 crore, including ₹1,000 crore allocated for Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities. Plans are also in place to develop an integrated domestic and international cargo infrastructure to strengthen trade, logistics and employment generation in the Northeast Media.
The Guwahati terminal inauguration comes amid a broader push by Adani Airport Holdings Limited to expand India’s aviation capacity. The group is also set to operationalise the Navi Mumbai International Airport on December 25, one of the country’s largest greenfield airport projects, underscoring accelerated execution across major infrastructure initiatives.
