Guwahati Terminal: PM Modi inaugurates Guwahati Terminal, Adani’s new benchmark for connectivity in Northeast India

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the design at Advantage Assam 2.0 in February; The terminal was inaugurated today
• Operations will commence by the end of February, underscoring the tight timelines in building airport infrastructure
• The inauguration of Navi Mumbai International Airport on December 25 underscored the wide reach of the Adani Group’s execution capabilities.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new terminal at Lakriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (LGBIA) today. This journey from concept to actual implementation is rarely completed within a year, due to the strict emphasis on operational readiness.

The design of the terminal was unveiled by the Prime Minister at the Advantage Assam 2.0 event in February. Expected to commence operations by the end of February following today’s inauguration, this is a prime example of the speed with which India’s airport infrastructure is now being conceptualised, built, tested and ready for actual implementation. A comprehensive Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer (ORAT) program implemented with expert visiting teams from Munich, Germany has coordinated systems, processes, personnel and passenger flows to ensure safe and smooth operations from day one.

The name given to the terminal

Conceived as a modern gateway based on regional identity, the terminal is aptly named “The Bamboo Orchids”. The design is inspired by the Kopou flower (foxtail orchid), a signature of Assam, as well as local bamboo species such as Bholuka bamboo from Assam and Apatani bamboo from Arunachal Pradesh.

Combining natural materials, abundant natural light and contemporary design, the architecture reflects the ecological and cultural richness of the Northeast. Using around 140 metric tonnes of locally sourced bamboo, the terminal is one of India’s premier examples of nature-inspired airport architecture, reinventing traditional craftsmanship through modern engineering.

The project is developed by Guwahati International Airport Limited, operations Adani will be operated by Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL). The terminal exemplifies Adani Group’s integrated infrastructure development approach that combines excellence in design, engineering capabilities, OART-based readiness and on-time completion.

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What did the Prime Minister say?

Giving a broader national context to the inauguration, Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed it as part of the broader “Vikas Ka Utsav” ongoing in the North East, particularly Assam. He mentioned that Assam is emerging as India’s eastern gateway under the ‘Act East’ policy. He also said that the bamboo-rich terminal is a symbol of strength, sustainability and Assam’s growing role in accelerating a developed India as India moves towards becoming the world’s third largest economy.

Gautam Adani expressed his feelings

Commenting on the occasion, Gautam Adani, Chairman, Adani Group said, “The Guwahati terminal demonstrates that world-class airport infrastructure can be built at a very fast pace, while remaining deeply embedded in the local identity. It will strengthen connectivity in the Northeast, support economic growth and provide passengers with a convenient and modern travel experience.”

Equipped with Digiyatra-enabled processes, smart check-in systems and spacious passenger areas, the terminal is designed to handle 13.1 million passengers annually by 2032. Guwahati Airport is expected to handle 6.50 million passengers in the financial year 2024–25, reflecting the rapidly growing demand for aviation in the region. Guwahati is currently the tenth busiest airport in India and is an important hub for all the eight states of the Northeast.

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How many crores of investment

₹5,000 crore has been invested in the entire airport development project, of which ₹1,000 crore has been earmarked for maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities. The proposed integrated domestic and international cargo infrastructure will further boost trade, logistics and employment generation.

This Guwahati phase is part of the ongoing national level aviation expansion led by AAHL. At the same pace, the planned operational inauguration of Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), one of India’s largest greenfield airport projects, will also take place on December 25.

Taken together, these developments are a reflection of India’s changing infrastructure landscape—where speed, scalability, operational readiness and design excellence are converging through access to future-proof development.