The historic Rupsi Airport in Assam, originally built by the British during World War II as a strategic military airfield, is being considered for transformation into a major logistics and cargo hub, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced during a Facebook Live session on Sunday.
The proposed development is expected to strengthen trade, commerce, and connectivity across western Assam and the wider Northeast region. Strategically located near the India-Bangladesh border, Rupsi Airport could emerge as a key gateway for regional and international cargo movement.
Constructed during the Second World War, the airport spanned nearly 2,500 bighas and featured a 6,000-foot runway, terminal facilities, parking areas, and 52 aircraft hangars. After Independence, it transitioned into a civilian airport, operating flights to Kolkata via Cooch Behar and Siliguri during the 1960s. Services were later discontinued, and the airport remained inactive for decades.
Rupsi’s revival began under the Government of India’s UDAN regional connectivity scheme. The first phase of redevelopment involved an investment of Rs 40 crore for runway reconstruction and boundary wall construction, while a second phase launched in 2019 added a modern passenger terminal, air traffic control tower, security infrastructure, and other facilities with an additional Rs 69 crore investment.
With commercial operations restored, the state government is now exploring a larger role for the airport as a dedicated logistics hub. The facility could support the transportation of agricultural produce, fisheries, horticultural products, industrial goods, and e-commerce shipments from districts including Dhubri, Kokrajhar, South Salmara-Mankachar, and Goalpara, while also serving parts of Meghalaya and North Bengal.
Officials believe Rupsi’s location could help strengthen trade links with neighbouring countries such as Bangladesh, Bhutan and Myanmar, aligning with India’s Act East Policy and enhancing economic integration across the region.
If implemented, the project would mark the latest chapter in Rupsi Airport’s transformation from a wartime airstrip to a modern logistics gateway, positioning it as a catalyst for investment, employment, and economic growth in western Assam and the Northeast.
