The Assam government has begun planning for a second terminal at Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati, anticipating a sharp rise in passenger traffic and the airport’s growing regional importance. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said preparations are underway even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the new terminal on 20 December. Sarma said that once the new terminal becomes operational, all domestic operations will be shifted there, while the existing terminal will be gradually phased out. In the interim, international flights will continue to operate from the old terminal to meet customs and regulatory requirements, but it will eventually be closed once full transition is completed. The new Bamboo Orchids Terminal, designed to handle around 13.1 million passengers annually, is expected to significantly enhance air connectivity between the Northeast and Southeast Asia. Operated by Guwahati International Airport Limited, the terminal is scheduled to become operational in the first quarter of next year. Officials said the terminal is envisioned as more than an infrastructure upgrade, positioning Guwahati as a key gateway to the Northeast by blending cultural identity with improved connectivity and economic growth. The facility is expected to support Assam’s tea, agriculture, handloom and floriculture sectors, while attracting tourism and investment from ASEAN countries. Plans for a second terminal are seen as a strategic step to strengthen links between the Northeast’s entrepreneurial potential and markets in Southeast Asia. The expansion is also expected to improve access to international destinations for trade and facilitate smoother entry into regional eco-tourism circuits, including Kaziranga, Majuli and Sualkuchi, as well as neighbouring states such as Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Bhutan. With expansion plans taking shape, Guwahati airport is set to play a central role in boosting connectivity and economic engagement across the Northeast and beyond.