Guwahati, June 9: In a unanimous decision, the Assam Legislative Assembly on Monday passed a resolution to rename Dibrugarh Airport as Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Airport, honouring the legendary singer and Bharat Ratna awardee on his birth centenary.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the development via a post on X, stating, “It gives me great joy to share that the @AssamAssembly has unanimously passed the resolution to rename Dibrugarh Airport as Dr Bhupen Hazarika Airport. This will be a befitting tribute to the legacy of the Bharat Ratna, whose contributions to Assam and Bharat are unparalleled.”
The renaming resolution was passed during a special one-day session of the Assembly and will now be sent to the Ministry of Civil Aviation for final approval, as per standard protocol on airport naming. The Assam Cabinet had earlier cleared the proposal on May 10 as part of broader centenary-year celebrations of Hazarika, who remains a towering figure in Assam’s cultural and political history.
Welcoming the decision, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president and MP Gaurav Gogoi called the renaming a “fitting tribute” to Hazarika.
Speaking to the media Gogoi said, “Naming the Dibrugarh airport after Bhupen Hazarika is a befitting honour to a towering figure who represented the soul of Assam’s heritage.”
However, Gogoi also raised concerns about the lack of evening flight connectivity from Dibrugarh, calling it a major challenge for Upper Assam. He emphasized that the absence of scheduled evening flights is especially problematic during medical emergencies and for urgent travel.
“Connectivity remains a pressing concern. While we appreciate the efforts made to improve access in parts of Upper Assam, the gap in evening flights from Dibrugarh is a real obstacle for residents and the region’s development,” he said.
Gogoi urged both the state and central governments to address these gaps in air infrastructure and continue focusing on improving public convenience in remote regions.
With the resolution passed, the renaming of the airport is now one step closer to becoming official, symbolizing Assam’s recognition of Bhupen Hazarika’s enduring legacy while also spotlighting ongoing infrastructure challenges in the region.
