Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the new terminal of the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International (LGBI) Airport in Guwahati. The Prime Minister said the upgraded airport would strengthen air connectivity and support tourism, trade and cultural exchange in the region.
The new terminal is expected to serve as a major gateway to the Northeast. Modi said the modern structure represents Assam’s pride and future aspirations. He added that airports, along with other transport infrastructure, reflect the changing outlook of the state.
The Prime Minister addressed a gathering after the inauguration. He said the Northeast was becoming an important contributor to national progress. “India’s new sun is rising from the Northeast,” he told the audience. Modi said the development of infrastructure was creating new opportunities for investment and industry. 
In his speech, Modi criticised previous Congress governments for neglecting the region. He said past governments questioned the need for airports and highways in Assam and the Northeast. He said the present government was correcting these mistakes by building roads, bridges and transport links.
Modi said the state had achieved progress through several initiatives of the BJP-led government. He referred to the implementation of the Bharat Net Satellite Link Scheme (BNSS) and the installation of 50 lakh prepaid electricity meters. He claimed that in earlier years, opportunities were limited and government jobs were often associated with bribery, but now recruitment processes were more transparent.
