PM inaugurates new airport terminal, says it will open up new possibilities

Guwahati: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the new terminal building of the Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati, marking what he called a ‘festival of development’.

Describing it as a transformative milestone in Assam’s connectivity, economic expansion and global engagement, Modi in a public rally said, “Today marks the festival of development and progress of Assam and the northeast. When the light of progress reaches people, every path in life begins to touch new heights.”





Quoting Bharat Ratna Bhupen Hazarika, Modi declared that “the banks of the mighty Brahmaputra river will shine, every wall of darkness will be broken,” stressing that this was not merely a song but a solemn pledge now being fulfilled. “Just as the mighty currents of the Brahmaputra never stop, similarly under our govts at the Union and state, the stream of development in Assam continues uninterrupted,” he said.

The PM also unveiled a towering statue of Gopinath Bardoloi, Assam’s first CM after Independence, praising him as a leader who “never compromised on Assam’s identity, future, and interests”. “His statue will continue to inspire future generations, instilling in them a deep sense of pride for Assam,” Modi said.

Highlighting the new airport’s design, Modi said, “Modern airport facilities and advanced connectivity infrastructure serve as gateways to new possibilities and opportunities for any state, and stand as pillars of growing confidence and trust among the people.” He noted the pioneering use of bamboo, orchid motifs, and Kaziranga inspired landscapes, underscoring that the terminal reflects both “development along with heritage.”

Modi contrasted BJP’s push with what he called decades of neglect. “For the previous govts, the development of Assam and the northeast was never on their agenda. Leaders in those govts used to say, ‘Who even goes to Assam and the northeast?’ and questioned the need for modern airports, highways, and better railways in the region,” he said. He added that mistakes committed over six to seven decades were now being corrected “one by one”.

The PM underlined that in the past eleven years, projects worth lakhs of crores have been initiated in the northeast, citing Assam’s record in implementing the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and installing over 50 lakh smart prepaid meters. He recalled the Guinness World Record Bihu performance in Guwahati as proof of Assam’s cultural pride.

“Assam and the entire northeast are becoming the new gateway of India’s development,” Modi said, pointing to bridges across the Brahmaputra, the Vande Bharat Express, and rising cargo traffic on waterways. He said the new terminal, capable of handling 1.3 crore passengers annually, would boost tourism, ease pilgrimages to Maa Kamakhya, and open pathways for local products to reach global markets.

“Today the world is looking towards India with hope, and the new sunrise of India’s future is to begin from the northeast. For this, collective efforts are required to work towards shared dreams, with Assam’s development kept at the forefront. I have confidence,” he added.

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