Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the new terminal building of Lokapriya Gopinath Bardoloi International Airport in Guwahati, describing the occasion as a “festival of development” for Assam and the Northeast and asserting that the region is emerging as the new gateway to India’s future growth.
Addressing a gathering after the inauguration, the Prime Minister said modern airports and advanced connectivity infrastructure serve as gateways to new possibilities and opportunities for any state, strengthening public confidence and opening new economic pathways. He said Assam and the entire Northeast are now positioned to lead India’s future development journey.
PM Modi underscored that his personal attachment to Assam and the affection of its people continue to inspire him and reinforce the government’s resolve to accelerate development in the region. Quoting lines by Bharat Ratna Bhupen Hazarika, he said the pledge to illuminate the banks of the Brahmaputra and break all walls of darkness was being fulfilled through sustained development efforts.
The Prime Minister highlighted that the inauguration of the new terminal was another milestone in Assam’s development, reflecting the uninterrupted flow of progress under the current governments at the Centre and in the state. He congratulated the people of Assam and the nation on the completion of the new terminal building.
Earlier in the day, the PM unveiled a statue of Gopinath Bardoloi, Assam’s first Chief Minister, calling him a leader who never compromised on Assam’s identity, interests or future. He said the statue would continue to inspire future generations with a sense of pride for the state.
Underlining the role of infrastructure in development, PM Modi said that when people see highways and modern airports being built in Assam, they recognise that long-delayed justice for the state has finally begun. He said that earlier governments had neglected Assam and the Northeast for decades, questioning the need for modern connectivity in the region and leaving it outside the development agenda.
The PM said the shortcomings of the past six to seven decades were now being corrected one by one, adding that he personally feels a sense of belonging whenever he visits Assam. The Prime Minister said development of the state is both a responsibility and accountability for him.
Prime Minister Modi noted that over the past eleven years, projects worth lakhs of crores of rupees have been initiated for Assam and the Northeast. He said that Assam has become the first state in the country to implement the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and has installed more than 50 lakh smart prepaid electricity meters. Referring to governance reforms, he said that unlike earlier times when government jobs allegedly required bribes or recommendations, thousands of youth are now securing employment transparently.
The PM also spoke about cultural promotion, recalling the April 13, 2023 event when more than 11,000 artists performed the Bihu dance together in Guwahati, earning a Guinness World Records entry. He said such achievements reflect Assam’s rapid progress.
With the commissioning of the new terminal, the Prime Minister said Guwahati and Assam’s passenger-handling capacity will rise significantly, enabling over 1.25 crore passengers to travel annually. He said the expanded capacity would boost tourism and facilitate easier access for devotees visiting the Kamakhya temple.
PM Modi said the terminal reflects the vision of development alongside heritage, with its design rooted in Assam’s natural and cultural identity. He highlighted features such as greenery inside the terminal, an indoor forest-like atmosphere, and extensive use of bamboo. He recalled the 2017 amendment to the Indian Forest Act that reclassified bamboo grown in non-forest areas as grass rather than a tree, which he said enabled wider use of bamboo in construction, including the new terminal.
The Prime Minister stated infrastructure development sends a strong signal to industries and investors while enabling local products to access global markets. He said the greatest assurance is given to the youth through the creation of new opportunities, adding that Assam is advancing on a path of limitless possibilities.
Referring to India’s economic trajectory, PM Modi said the country is on track to become the world’s third-largest economy, attributing this progress to large-scale investment in modern infrastructure over the past eleven years. He said preparations are underway to realise the vision of a developed India by 2047, with participation from every state and region. He said the government is prioritising underprivileged regions and expressed satisfaction that Assam and the Northeast are leading this mission.
Under the Act East Policy, Prime Minister Modi said the Northeast has gained strategic importance, with Assam emerging as India’s eastern gateway and a bridge connecting the country with ASEAN nations. He said the state will play a key role as an engine of growth in multiple sectors.
The PM said multi-modal connectivity has transformed both the condition and direction of the Northeast, citing the rapid construction of bridges, expansion of mobile connectivity, and accelerated pace of development projects. PM Modi noted that while only three major bridges were built over the Brahmaputra in the six to seven decades after Independence, four new mega bridges have been completed in the last decade. He cited projects such as the Bogibeel and Dhola-Sadiya bridges as strengthening Assam’s strategic and economic position.
Further, the Prime Minister said railway connectivity has undergone a major transformation, with the Bogibeel bridge reducing travel distances between Upper Assam and the rest of the country. He also mentioned the Vande Bharat Express between Guwahati and New Jalpaiguri, which has reduced travel time.
Highlighting inland waterways, PM Modi said cargo movement on the Brahmaputra has increased by 140 percent, describing the river as a flow of economic power. He said India’s first ship repair facility is being developed at Pandu, while the Ganga Vilas cruise from Varanasi to Dibrugarh has placed the Northeast on the global cruise tourism map.
Criticising earlier governments, the Prime Minister said decades of neglect had weakened security, unity and integrity in the region, allowing violence to persist. He said sustained efforts over the past decade have reduced violence and expanded digital connectivity, with 4G and 5G services reaching remote areas. He said districts once affected by violence are now emerging as aspirational districts and future industrial corridors.
Additionally, the PM said development in Assam and the Northeast has been possible because the government is safeguarding the region’s identity and culture. He said that attempts to erase Assam’s identity date back to the pre-Independence era, when there were plans to merge Assam with undivided Bengal. He said Bardoloi opposed these moves and protected Assam’s place within India, later being honoured with the Bharat Ratna.
Prime Minister Modi further said that post-Independence policies encouraged illegal infiltration, altering the region’s demography and encroaching on land and forests, thereby threatening Assam’s security and identity.
PM Modi stressed the current state government, led by Himanta Biswa Sarma, is working to reclaim resources from illegal encroachments, with the Centre supporting measures to identify and remove illegal infiltrators.
The Prime Minister pointed out that Opposition parties were opposing efforts such as the Special Intensive Revision process and defending infiltrators, warning that such actions could destabilise the state again. He urged people to remain vigilant and united to ensure that Assam’s development continues unhindered.
He also said that the world is looking at India with hope and that the new sunrise of India’s future will begin from the Northeast.
The PM expressed confidence that collective efforts would take Assam to new heights and help realise the vision of a developed India.
Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Union Ministers Sarbananda Sonowal, K Rammohan Naidu, Murlidhar Mohol and Pabitra Margherita, among other dignitaries, were present at the event.
