The new and Foxtail Orchid-shaped integrated terminal building of Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi Airport, located in Assam capital Guwahati, will be unveiled in coming July. The expansion will not only handle the ever growing passenger traffic, with the airport already managing a staggering 5.6 million passengers in the previous year, but will also symbolise Assam’s rich cultural heritage through its architectural design.
Revealing about the development during a press conference, Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma highlighted the new terminal’s role in boosting tourism in Guwahati significantly which subsequently will strengthen the connectivity and economic growth in the region.
The Foxtail Orchid or Kopou Phool, scientifically known as Rhynchostylis retusa, is the State flower and it holds deep cultural significance. During the Bohag or Rongali Bihu festival, which marks the Assamese New Year on April 14, female Bihu dancers adorn their hair with this flower.
The state-of-the-art terminal is poised to accommodate the increasing flow of travellers, boasting a capacity to manage 4,300 domestic and 200 international passengers during peak hours, with an estimated annual capacity of 10 million passengers.
It will feature modern amenities including 64 check-in counters, as many as 20 self-check-in kiosks, six baggage counters, in-line baggage security screening systems, and 10 aerobridges, effectively doubling the airport’s capacity to meet current and future demands.
Currently, operating with Terminal 1, dedicated to domestic flights and Terminal 2, serving international travellers, the addition of the new terminal promises to enhance both functionality and aesthetics.
