Guwahati’s ₹4,000-Crore Terminal to Go Operational from February 22, Says Assam CM

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the new ₹4,000-crore integrated terminal building at Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport will start its operations on February 22, 2026, as reported by The Economic Times. It will be the key civil aviation infrastructure boost in Northeast India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had opened the facility on December 20, 2025, and both domestic and international flights are supposed to be relocated to the new complex before March 2026, with the old one being turned into a cargo hub. The facility will aim at increasing capacity and passenger experience to a considerable extent and will enable Guwahati to become a major aviation hub connecting the region to other parts of India.

Design, Capacity, and Operational Features

The new Integrated Terminal-2 Building, spread over 1,40,000 square metres, has been developed with a design inspired by Assam’s biodiversity and cultural heritage—'Bamboo Orchids', integrating modern architectural elements reflective of the region’s identity. In accordance with the reports of ETinfra.com, it is designed to accommodate 13.1 million passengers annually, which is close to twice the throughput of the airport, reducing congestion in the airport, which has been among the busiest gateways in Northeast India. The terminal facilities, according to The Economic Times, include state-of-the-art passenger processing facilities, bigger check-in halls, security screening areas, and increased baggage handling space. This is compliant with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards. Domestic carriers such as IndiGo and Air India, and some international services, will also start operating out of the new terminal by March, depending on the airline slot allocation and regulatory approvals. At the same time, the current terminal will be transformed into a specialized cargo hub, which will enhance the regional logistics and freight services.

Administrative Coordination and Regional Impact

The project is a multi-stakeholder coordination between the Airports Authority of India (AAI), the Ministry of Civil Aviation, and the Government of Assam. The expansion anticipates projected traffic growth across the Northeast. The transfer of the flight operations will take place in phases as per the official briefings in order to provide continuity of the services and reduce the disruptive effect. Since the main aerial gateway to the whole Northeast region is now in Guwahati Airport, the expanded terminal will trigger inbound tourism, cross-border connectivity with Southeast Asia, and promote trade and commerce. The old terminal cargo conversion process is intended to capture the logistics demand, based on e-commerce, regional exports, and airlines will schedule to take advantage of the new capacity.

Infrastructure Rooted in Regional Identity

The terminal has been conceptualised around Assam’s biodiversity, with design elements inspired by the Brahmaputra river, Kaziranga’s one-horned rhinoceros, and the region’s rich flora and fauna. The architectural theme integrates natural lighting, green building principles, and sustainable materials to reflect the ecological character of the Northeast. With a capacity of over 13 million passengers annually, it aligns infrastructure growth with environmental sensitivity. The development comes as India’s domestic passenger traffic continues to exceed 150 million a year. Together, scale and sustainability define Guwahati’s next phase of aviation growth.