Guwahati, December 20 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the new terminal building at Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi International Airport (LGBIA), marking the completion of an unusually fast airport delivery cycle—moving from design unveiling to commissioning in under a year.
The terminal’s design was first revealed by the Prime Minister in February at the Advantage Assam 2.0 summit. While the building has now been inaugurated, airport officials said full operations from the new facility are expected to begin by the end of February, after final readiness checks and transfer procedures.
A key feature of the project’s rollout has been an Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer (ORAT) programme, aimed at aligning systems, staff deployment, passenger movement, and safety protocols before the terminal opens to the public. The ORAT exercise was supported by an expert visiting team from Munich, Germany, according to the project developer.
The terminal has been developed by Guwahati International Airport Limited (GIAL), with operations led by Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL).
Branded “The Bamboo Orchids,” the new terminal draws inspiration from Assam’s kopou phool (foxtail orchid) and bamboo varieties associated with the region, including Bholuka bamboo from Assam and Apatani bamboo from Arunachal Pradesh.
Project authorities said around 140 metric tonnes of locally sourced bamboo were used in the terminal, combining traditional materials with contemporary engineering and large daylight-filled spaces—an effort to reflect the Northeast’s cultural and ecological identity within a modern airport setting.
At the inauguration, the Prime Minister positioned the terminal within a broader development push in the Northeast, describing it as part of a wider Vikas ka Utsav in Assam. He also linked Assam’s role to India’s Act East policy, calling the state an emerging eastern gateway and pointing to sustainability cues symbolised by the bamboo-focused design.
The new terminal includes DigiYatra-enabled processing, smart check-in systems, and expanded passenger areas. It is planned to handle 13.1 million passengers annually by 2032.
Guwahati Airport handled 6.50 million passengers in FY 2024–25, reflecting rising aviation demand in the region. The airport currently ranks as the 10th busiest in India, serving as a key hub for all eight Northeastern states.
The overall airport development is pegged at ₹5,000 crore, including ₹1,000 crore earmarked for Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities. Plans also include integrated domestic and international cargo infrastructure, expected to strengthen trade logistics and employment generation across the region.
Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani said the terminal showed that “world-class airport infrastructure can be delivered swiftly while remaining deeply rooted in local identity,” and added that it would strengthen connectivity and economic activity in the Northeast.
The group also linked the Guwahati milestone to its wider aviation expansion, pointing to the scheduled operational launch of Navi Mumbai International Airport on December 25, one of India’s large greenfield airport projects.
Guwahati International Airport Limited (GIAL), managed by Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL), oversees the operation and modernisation of LGBIA, the primary aviation gateway to Northeast India. The airport has also reported recognition for customer experience and sustainability initiatives, including ACI Airport Customer Experience programme accreditation and a Greentech award for waste management and recycling leadership.
