Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new terminal building of the Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi International Airport in Guwahati, Assam, this afternoon. He also unveiled an 80-foot statue of Assam’s first Chief Minister, Gopinath Bardoloi, outside the new terminal of the airport named after him. Spread over nearly 1.4 lakh square metres, the New Terminal Building is designed to handle up to 1.3 crore passengers annually.

The New Terminal Building draws inspiration from Assam’s biodiversity and cultural heritage, under the theme Bamboo Orchids. Addressing a public gathering in Guwahati, he said that during the last 11 years, several mega and historic infrastructure projects worth several lakh crore rupees have been initiated and completed in the state. The Prime Minister said that the Centre prioritises Assam under the Act East Policy and that the state will be an engine for Viksit Bharat.

He said, today a new chapter is being added to the development of Assam, and it is a celebration of the development of the entire North East, not just Assam. Mr Modi said development under the BJP’s double-engine government flows unabated in Assam, just like the flow of the mighty Brahmaputra river. He said, Assam’s first Chief Minister, Gopinath Bardoloi, was the state’s pride, and his statue will inspire current and future generations. He alleged that the development of Assam and the Northeast was never part of the Congress agenda.

Speaking on the occasion, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the inauguration of the new terminal at Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi International Airport is a historic step in the direction of the state’s development. Mr Sarma said this airport will not only strengthen Assam but will also give fresh momentum to connectivity, tourism, and economic growth across the entire North-East. The Prime Minister led a roadshow towards the BJP headquarters in the city and interacted with party workers.

Tomorrow, the Prime Minister will interact with 25 school students as part of his programme ‘Pariksha Pe Charcha’ while sailing on the Brahmaputra River aboard a cruise ship. After that, Mr Modi will visit the newly constructed Swahid Smarak Kshetra in the city, built in memory of the 860 martyrs of the Assam Movement. The Prime Minister will also perform Bhumi Pujan of the 12,000 crore rupees Ammonia-Urea fertiliser project. He will also address a public meeting at Namrup. The Prime Minister arrived in Guwahati this afternoon on a two-day visit to Assam.