Sonowal Hails Assam Airport Terminal As Connectivity Milestone

24 Dec 2025 CW Team

Recalling the Prime Minister’s visit, Sonowal said Assam and the wider Northeast have seen rapid transformation since 2014 under Modi’s leadership. He said a region earlier neglected has emerged as a key driver of India’s economic growth, describing the Northeast as the nation’s “Ashtalakshmi” and a new engine of New India. He added that the inauguration of the new terminal marks the start of a new chapter for Assam’s international air connectivity. The decision to build the terminal was taken through a memorandum of understanding signed during the first Advantage Assam summit in 2018, the same year the foundation stone was laid.

Referring to the Prime Minister’s focus on “transformation through transport”, Sonowal said the terminal represents a major milestone in Assam’s journey towards prosperity. For over six decades, the state’s main airport operated with limited capacity, and Guwahati’s growing role as a gateway to Southeast Asia made the expansion essential to strengthen connectivity and mobility.

Spread over about 140,000 square metres and nearly seven times larger than the previous terminal, the new facility increases annual passenger handling capacity from 3.4 million to more than 13 million. Built at a cost of nearly Rs 40 billion, the terminal offers Guwahati world-class aviation infrastructure, Sonowal said.

Welcoming the unveiling of Bordoloi’s statue, the minister said the leader’s vision and decisive leadership safeguarded Assam’s identity during India’s freedom struggle while strengthening national unity and integrity. He added that Bordoloi’s legacy would continue to inspire future generations in building a strong and developed India.

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the architect of Assam and the Northeast’s transformation as he inaugurated the new terminal building at Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati. Sonowal accompanied the Prime Minister at the ceremony, where Modi also unveiled a statue of Bharat Ratna Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi at the airport. Recalling the Prime Minister’s visit, Sonowal said Assam and the wider Northeast have seen rapid transformation since 2014 under Modi’s leadership. He said a region earlier neglected has emerged as a key driver of India’s economic growth, describing the Northeast as the nation’s “Ashtalakshmi” and a new engine of New India. He added that the inauguration of the new terminal marks the start of a new chapter for Assam’s international air connectivity. The decision to build the terminal was taken through a memorandum of understanding signed during the first Advantage Assam summit in 2018, the same year the foundation stone was laid. Referring to the Prime Minister’s focus on “transformation through transport”, Sonowal said the terminal represents a major milestone in Assam’s journey towards prosperity. For over six decades, the state’s main airport operated with limited capacity, and Guwahati’s growing role as a gateway to Southeast Asia made the expansion essential to strengthen connectivity and mobility. Spread over about 140,000 square metres and nearly seven times larger than the previous terminal, the new facility increases annual passenger handling capacity from 3.4 million to more than 13 million. Built at a cost of nearly Rs 40 billion, the terminal offers Guwahati world-class aviation infrastructure, Sonowal said. Welcoming the unveiling of Bordoloi’s statue, the minister said the leader’s vision and decisive leadership safeguarded Assam’s identity during India’s freedom struggle while strengthening national unity and integrity. He added that Bordoloi’s legacy would continue to inspire future generations in building a strong and developed India.

Infrastructure Transport

06 Feb 2026

Second Mountain Tunnel Breakthrough in Palghar Advances High Speed Rail

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad high speed rail (MAHSR) project reached a milestone with the breakthrough of a mountain tunnel in Palghar, Maharashtra. Mountain tunnel MT-six measures 454 metres long and 14.4 metres wide and will accommodate up and down tracks. The breakthrough follows MT-five near Saphale on second January 2026 and the MT-six excavation was completed from both ends using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method. The ministry reported that the tunnelling was completed within 12 months. The New Austrian Tunnelling Method is favoured for its flexibility in complex geology and irregular tunnel s..

Infrastructure Transport

06 Feb 2026

Modi Government Pushes Atmanirbhar Container Drive With BCSL MoU

The Union Government advanced a plan to create an integrated, domestically anchored container ecosystem with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to establish the Bharat Container Shipping Line (BCSL). The MoU was signed by key agencies including the Shipping Corporation of India and Container Corporation of India alongside major port authorities and Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, in the presence of senior ministers. The initiative aligns with the Container Manufacturing Assistance Scheme announced in the Union Budget 2026–2..

Infrastructure Urban

06 Feb 2026

Ministry Reports Gains In Mobility For Marginalised Communities

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is implementing skill development, education and rehabilitation schemes to promote socio-economic mobility and sustainable livelihoods for marginalised and disadvantaged communities across the country. Programmes target Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes, Economically Weaker Sections, De-notified Tribes and Safai Karamcharis through specialised implementing corporations and empanelled training institutes. Pradhan Mantri Dakshata Aur Kushalta Sampann Hitgrahi Yojana, or PM-DAKSH, provided skill training and placement support through the Nati..