Assam Plans Second Terminal at Guwahati Airport Amid New Inauguration
New Developments at Guwahati Airport
Guwahati, Dec 18: As Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepares to inaugurate the new terminal at Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi (LGB) International Airport on December 20, the Assam government is already strategizing for a second terminal at this key aviation hub in Guwahati.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Thursday that plans for an additional terminal are underway, highlighting the expected increase in passenger traffic and the airport's expanding regional significance.
"We are currently in the planning stages for a second terminal. Once the new terminal opens, all operations will transition there," Sarma informed reporters following a cabinet meeting at Lok Sewa Bhawan.
He noted that the existing terminal will eventually be decommissioned.
"This process will take some time. In the meantime, international flights will continue to operate from the old terminal due to customs and other regulations. However, the old terminal will ultimately be closed," the Chief Minister explained.
The new Bamboo Orchids Terminal is designed to accommodate 13.1 million passengers annually, significantly improving air connectivity between Northeast India and Southeast Asia.
A glimpse of the interior of the new terminal. (Photo:@himantabiswa/X)
Managed by Guwahati International Airport Limited (GIAL), the new terminal is expected to commence operations in the first quarter of the upcoming year.
Officials view this new terminal as more than just an infrastructure enhancement; it is being positioned as a crucial gateway for the Northeast, merging cultural elements with connectivity and aligning infrastructure with economic goals.
Enhanced cargo and passenger connectivity is anticipated to strengthen Assam's export sector, including tea, agricultural products, handloom, and floriculture, while also drawing tourism and investments from ASEAN nations.
Sources previously indicated that Terminal 2 at LGBI Airport is envisioned as a strategic link connecting the Northeast's entrepreneurial capabilities with the growth markets of Southeast Asia.
For trade, it promises faster access to international markets; for travelers, it offers smoother entry into the region's eco-tourism attractions, including Kaziranga, Majuli, and Sualkuchi, as well as neighboring states like Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, and Nagaland, and nearby Bhutan.
With expansion plans already in motion, Guwahati airport is set to play a pivotal role in transforming the Northeast's connectivity and economic interactions with the broader region.