Advertisement
When should a housing society in Mumbai start considering re...
From GST on JDAs to SEBI’s REIT reclassification and the S...
Stay ahead in the world of real estate with our daily podcas...
Stay ahead in the world of real estate with our daily podcas...
India's first Emergency Landing Facility in the Northeast has been commissioned on a national highway stretch in Assam, strengthening the region's aviation and defence preparedness. The facility allows military and civilian aircraft to land during emergencies and has been developed with support from the Indian Air Force. Fighter jets and transport aircraft successfully operated from the highway strip, demonstrating its readiness. The project adds a new layer of operational flexibility for disaster response, logistics, and strategic requirements, while also improving infrastructure resilience in a region with limited aviation alternatives.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Northeast's first Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) on a national highway in Assam, marking a key infrastructure addition for both civil and defence aviation. The facility has been developed on a 4.2-kilometre stretch of the Moran Bypass along National Highway-37 in Assam, within the Dibrugarh district. Advertisement
The highway section has been engineered to function as an emergency runway, allowing aircraft to land and take off when regular airports are unavailable or during critical situations. Designed without a central divider, the four-lane stretch has been structurally reinforced to support fighter jets as well as transport aircraft. Officials involved in the project indicated that the facility can handle combat aircraft weighing up to around 40 tonnes and transport aircraft with a maximum take-off weight of nearly 74 tonnes.
During the inauguration, multiple aircraft from the Indian Air Force operated from the highway strip. These included Sukhoi Su-30MKI and Rafale fighter jets, along with transport aircraft, demonstrating the operational readiness of the facility. The Prime Minister arrived at the site aboard an Air Force transport aircraft, underscoring the dual-use nature of the infrastructure.
The emergency landing facility has been constructed at an estimated cost of about INR 100 crore, with technical planning and execution carried out in coordination with the Air Force. Apart from defence use, the strip is intended to support emergency landings for civilian aircraft, disaster relief operations, and logistics movement during floods, earthquakes, or other disruptions that affect airport operations in the region.
Officials highlighted that this is the first such highway-based airstrip in Northeast India, adding strategic depth to the region's infrastructure. Similar facilities have been tested in other parts of the country, but this installation addresses the Northeast's specific connectivity and security requirements, given its terrain and distance from major aviation hubs.
5th Jun, 2025
25th May, 2023
11th May, 2023
27th Apr, 2023
Advertisement
Facebook
Whatsapp
