Gaurav Gogoi writes to Aviation Minister over Guwahati airport's name change

GUWAHATI: Amid the controversy over Guwahati Airport's name, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on Friday wrote to Civil Aviation Minister urging to instruct concerned authority to retain Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport's name and 'respect the cultural and regional pride associated with it.'

Gogoi wrote the letter to Jyotidaditya M. Scindia  over the signing of concession agreement between the Airport Authority of India and the Adani Group, transferring operation, management and development of the Airport in Guwahati, to the group for 50 years.

He claimed that the government did not take into account ongoing protests and citizens' discontentment against such transfer.

"It is unwise that public tax payer's money was spent on upgrading the airport, it is now being sold to a private player", said Gaurav Gogoi.

In the letter to the Aviation Minister, Gaurav Gogoi  stated that the airport was included in the UDAN scheme to to improve international connectivity.

He added that the original name, named after the state's first Chief Minister, is a mark of reverence and pride to celebrate the dynamic leadership who is not only remembered for his popularity in the state but also his contribution to the Indian freedom struggle.

"The airport's name has come to be associated with the Assamese identity and culture with people like me identifying the busiest airport in the northeast as theirs, Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport should not be renamed", he further elaborated.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday had assured that the airport's name will remain named after Gopinath Bordoloi.

The controversy over the name took an uglier turn after an advertisement was published in some newspapers issued by the Adani Guwahati International Airport Limited (AGIAL) inviting bids for some non-aeronautical services at the Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (LGBIA).

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