Prime Minister inaugurated the LGBI Airport’s New Integrated Terminal and unveiled a 28-foot-tall statue of Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Guwahati today to a grand, cultural and colourful welcome. The PM is on a two-day Assam visit.
Soon after touching down at around 3PM, the Prime Minister inaugurated the LGBI Airport’s New Integrated Terminal and unveiled a 28-foot-tall statue of Bharat Ratna Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi, Assam’s legendary freedom fighter and the state’s first Chief Minister. The Guwahati airport is named after him.
The upgraded terminal is expected to transform Guwahati into a major aviation hub for the Northeast and position it as a key gateway to Southeast Asia. Spread over nearly 1.4 lakh square metres, the terminal has the capacity to handle up to 1.3 crore passengers annually.
The airport modernisation included major enhancements to the runway, airfield systems, aprons and taxiways. Built at an estimated cost of around Rs 6,000 crore, the project highlights the Centre’s focus on strengthening infrastructure and connectivity in the Northeast to drive economic growth and regional integration.
India’s First Nature-Themed Airport Terminal
The newly inaugurated terminal is India’s first nature-themed airport, conceptualised under the design theme “Bamboo Orchids.” Inspired by Assam’s biodiversity and cultural heritage, the terminal incorporates about 140 metric tonnes of locally sourced bamboo from the Northeast.
Architectural elements include traditional japi motifs, Kaziranga-inspired green landscapes, the iconic one-horned rhinoceros symbol and 57 orchid-inspired columns representing the Kopou flower. A major highlight is the “Sky Forest,” featuring nearly one lakh indigenous plants that offer passengers an immersive forest-like experience.
The terminal also introduces advanced passenger facilities such as full-body scanners, DigiYatra-enabled contactless travel, automated baggage handling systems, fast-track immigration and AI-driven airport operations.
Statue Honouring Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi
The statue of Bharat Ratna Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi, sculpted by the son of renowned Indian sculptor Ram Sutar, who died on Wednesday at the age of 101. The statue stands as a tribute to Bordoloi’s pivotal role in shaping modern Assam and safeguarding the state’s identity during India’s freedom struggle. The statue has been sculpted by eminent artist Ram Sutar, who died on Wednesday at the age of 101.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma welcomed the Prime Minister at the airport. The inauguration events were attended by the Governor of Assam, Union ministers, including Sarbananda Sonowal and the Union Civil Aviation Minister, along with industrialist Gautam Adani.
Following the ceremonies, Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to embark on a roadshow from the airport to Basistha, where he will meet BJP workers at the party’s state office. Over one lakh people are expected to line the route.
Read Also : PM Narendra Modi arrives in Guwahati on 2-day Assam visit, inaugurates new terminal of LGBI Airport
