Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the new terminal building of the Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi International Airport in Guwahati today. On Friday he shared impressive images of the facility ahead of the event. Terming this as a major boost to Assam’s infrastructure, the Prime Minister said the upgraded airport will improve the quality of life while boosting trade and tourism.
What Prime Minister Modi said before the inauguration
In a post on X, Prime Minister 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 quality of life and a boost to trade and tourism,” he said. He also provided further insights into the terminal and offered a preview of the new facility.
Why the new terminal is important
According to PTI, the integrated new terminal building covers an area of almost 1.4 million square meters and is designed to handle up to 1.3 million passengers per year.
The project is 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 on the concept of ‘bamboo orchids’. The architecture is based on the biodiversity and cultural heritage of Assam and uses about 140 tonnes of locally grown bamboo from the Northeast.
Visual elements include Kaziranga-inspired green landscapes, traditional Japi motifs, the rhino symbol and 57 orchid-inspired pillars inspired by the Kopou flower.
What is the Sky Forest feature?
One of the most striking elements of the newly built facility is the “Sky Forest”, where almost 100,000 native plants grow.
This feature is intended to provide passengers with an immersive, forest-like experience upon arrival at the terminal.
How the passenger experience is improved
The terminal introduces several modern and digital features that ensure smoother travel.
These include full-body scanners for faster security checks, DigiYatra-powered contactless travel, automated baggage handling systems, expedited immigration and AI-driven airport operations to ensure safe and efficient passenger movement.
