Guwahati: The Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International airport will be operational 24x7 from March 25, giving a boost to air travel in the Northeast.
Airports Authority of India (AAI) chairman Guruprasad Mahapatra told reporters here on Monday that this was decided keeping in mind the increase in passengers at the airport in the past few years.
"The LGBI airport is now a thriving airport and it witnessed 37.2 per cent growth of passengers in 2016-17. This was much above the national average growth rate of 17 per cent. Guwahati being the hub of the Northeast, it has been decided to make the airport operational 24x7 and upgrade its facilities," Mahapatra said.
City-based AAI regional executive director D.K. Kamra said three airlines have agreed to operate night flights.
At present, the airport handles 90 flights daily and does not have a flight beyond 9.30pm.
Guruprasad inaugurated a Rs 5-crore cargo facility at the airport on Monday. "At present, the airport handles only three tonnes of cargo daily but we want it to be a hub for cargo movement. I have asked the officials here to prepare a detailed project report within three months on how to increase capacity for cargo movement," he said.
Mahapatra said in view of the global investors' summit being organised by the Assam government on February 3 and 4, the present terminal has been extended by another 4,000 square metres to cater to the passenger inflow during the summit. "We have seen the present terminal becoming crowded during peak hour. So we have expanded it by another 4,000 square metres by spending Rs 28 crore. All toilets and drinking water facilities have been renovated for convenience of the people coming from different parts of the country and abroad during the summit," he said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the two-day summit here at 11am on February 3. More than 4,800 people, including top industrialists like Mukesh Ambani and Ratan Tata, and nearly 700 people from 17 countries have so far confirmed their participation.
The foundation stone for a new international terminal for the LGBI airport was laid on Sunday. It is expected to be operational by 2020.
