Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the new terminal building of Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi International Airport in Guwahati, marking a significant milestone for Assam’s infrastructure development and the Northeast’s connectivity push.

Ahead of the inauguration, the Prime Minister shared striking visuals of the upgraded facility on social media, describing the project as a major boost to the region. “Increased capacity means better Ease of Living and a boost for commerce as well as tourism,” PM Modi said in a post on X, adding that he would inaugurate the terminal in the afternoon after arriving in Guwahati.

As per PTI, the integrated terminal building spans nearly 1.4 lakh square metres and has been designed to handle up to 1.3 crore passengers annually. The new terminal is being seen as a transformative step that will strengthen Assam’s air connectivity while supporting economic growth, trade and global engagement.

The Guwahati airport terminal is also notable for being India’s first nature-themed airport terminal, built around the concept of “Bamboo Orchids.” The design draws inspiration from Assam’s biodiversity and cultural heritage, using around 140 metric tonnes of locally sourced Northeast bamboo.

The architecture features Kaziranga-inspired green landscapes, traditional japi motifs, the iconic rhino symbol and 57 orchid-inspired columns modelled on the kopou flower, creating a strong sense of regional identity within a modern aviation hub.

One of the terminal’s most distinctive elements is the “Sky Forest,” which houses nearly one lakh indigenous plants. This space is designed to offer passengers a forest-like, immersive experience upon arrival and departure, blending sustainability with aesthetics.

Passenger convenience has also been upgraded through the introduction of advanced digital and operational systems. These include full-body scanners for quicker security checks, DigiYatra-enabled contactless travel, automated baggage handling, fast-track immigration, and AI-driven airport operations to ensure smoother, safer and more efficient passenger movement.

With its expanded capacity, sustainable design and modern technology, the new Guwahati airport terminal is expected to play a key role in positioning Assam as a major gateway to the Northeast, while supporting tourism growth and regional development in the years ahead