In a tremendous boost to regional infrastructure, Terminal 2 at Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, Guwahati, has won the prestigious International Architecture Award 2025 in the Transport category, underscoring the terminal’s standout approach in fusing cultural identity with sustainable architectural excellence.
Capacity to Accelerate Tourism & Trade
With eight northeastern states depending on Guwahati as their principal aviation gateway, Terminal 2 significantly increases the airport’s capacity to 13 million passengers annually, easing congestion and improving operations. In FY 2024–25, the airport already handled over 6.5 million passengers, and the robust growth in early 2025 underscores its pivotal role in regional connectivity. This ramp-up is expected to catalyze tourism and commercial trade alike, offering smoother, more efficient access to Assam’s treasures—such as Kaziranga National Park, Assam tea estates, and cultural heritage sites.
Crafting Assam’s Story in Steel and Stone
What distinguishes Terminal 2 is how it embodies Assamese heritage through design:
- Locally inspired motifs: Bamboo elements and foxtail orchid references celebrate resilience and beauty, while gamocha-patterned design details and the fluid form of the structure evoke the Brahmaputra’s flow.
- Heritage welcome: From the moment travelers step inside, they’re greeted not just by an airport—but by a cultural narrative.
Sustainable Design Meets Traveler Comfort
Terminal 2 is a model for eco-responsible infrastructure:
- Natural lighting: Expansive skylights flood the terminal with daylight, cutting energy usage.
- Green features: Indoor gardens, vertical green walls, solar panel arrays, rainwater harvesting systems, recycled water networks, and green rooftops collectively enhance air quality, reduce environmental impact, and set new standards for eco-smart airports.
- Traveler-friendly layout: Efficient baggage systems, logical wayfinding, and spacious interiors ensure swift and stress-free passenger movement.
Collaborative Effort Behind the Innovation
The terminal is the result of a collaboration among:
- Architectural design by NUDES, headed by renowned architect Nuru Karim.
- Landscape design by Hemali Landscape Design Studio.
- Construction by Shapoorji Pallonji & Company Pvt. Ltd.
- Operational leadership from Adani Airport Holdings Limited.
Together, they created a space that is functional, sustainable, and culturally resonant.
Global Recognition, Local Impact
Out of hundreds of global submissions, only a handful—like Singapore’s Changi and Paris’s Gare du Nord redevelopment—were recognized alongside Guwahati’s Terminal 2. This accolade not only shines a light on India’s architectural and engineering prowess but also signals Assam’s readiness to take its rightful place on the global tourism map.
Tourism and Economic Potential
Tourism in Assam has been on an upswing. In FY 2023–24, the state welcomed millions of domestic tourists and thousands of foreign visitors, with Kaziranga National Park alone attracting record numbers. The new terminal will play a key role in sustaining and expanding this trend, improving accessibility, encouraging longer stays, and supporting the state’s signature industries—tea, agriculture, and oil.
A Vision for the Future
Terminal 2 at Guwahati Airport isn’t just a transportation hub—it’s an entryway that tells Assam’s story, merges innovation with tradition, and champions ecological design. As it opens a welcoming door to millions more travelers, it signals a new era for Northeast India—a fusion of heritage, hospitality, and modern infrastructure that can bolster tourism, empower trade, and elevate Assam’s global standing.
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