Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the new terminal building of Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi International Airport in Guwahati today. On Friday, he shared striking images of the facility ahead of the event. Calling it a major boost to Assam’s infrastructure, the Prime Minister said the upgraded airport will improve ease of living while giving a push to commerce and tourism.
What PM Modi said ahead of the inauguration
In a post on X, PM Modi said he would reach Guwahati today and inaugurate the new terminal in the afternoon. “This is a major boost to Assam’s infrastructure. Increased capacity means better ‘Ease of Living’ and a boost for commerce as well as tourism,” he said. He also shared additional glimpses of the terminal, offering a preview of the new facility.
Why the new terminal matters
As per PTI, the integrated new terminal building spans nearly 1.4 lakh square metres and is designed to handle up to 1.3 crore passengers annually.
The project is being seen as a transformative step for Assam’s connectivity, economic growth and global engagement.
India’s first nature-themed airport terminal
The Guwahati airport terminal is India’s first nature-themed airport facility, designed around the concept of “Bamboo Orchids.” The architecture draws from Assam’s biodiversity and cultural heritage, using about 140 metric tonnes of locally sourced Northeast bamboo.
Visual elements include Kaziranga-inspired green landscapes, traditional japi motifs, the rhino symbol and 57 orchid-inspired columns inspired by the kopou flower.
What is the ‘Sky Forest’ feature?
One of the most eye-catching elements of the newsly built facility is the “Sky Forest,” which houses nearly one lakh indigenous plants.
This feature is intended to give passengers an immersive, forest-like experience as they arrive at the terminal.
How passenger experience is being upgraded
The terminal introduces several modern and digital features aimed at smoother travel.
These include full-body scanners for faster security screening, DigiYatra-enabled contactless travel, automated baggage handling systems, fast-track immigration and AI-driven airport operations to ensure secure and efficient passenger movement.
