PM Modi inaugurates Northeast’s first emergency landing facility in Assam, lands C-130J on highway strip: Read its strategic importance for India

PM Modi landed at Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) on Moran Bypass in Dibrugarh.
Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) on Moran Bypass in Dibrugarh (Images via ANI)

On his visit to the North Eastern state of Assam, Prime Minister Modi marked a historic moment on Saturday (14th February) as his C-130J aircraft landed at the Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) on Moran Bypass in the Dibrugarh district. His aircraft took off from the Chabua airfield in the state and landed at the ELF, which was inaugurated by him.

After the inauguration, an Indian Air Force Sukhoi Su-30MKI and Rafale fighter jets took off from the ELF on the Moran Bypass, as PM Modi watched.

The ELF is built on the 4.2 km Dibrugarh-Moran stretch of National Highway 127, with a cost of ₹100 crore. There is no central divider at the stretch to allow smooth aircraft movement. To ensure operational safety, fencing has been installed on both sides of the stretch, and temporary roadside structures have been cleared.

The ELF has been designed to operate as a landing alternative in case the Dibrugarh Airport or Chabua Air Force Station becomes unavailable because of some operational or emergency circumstances. Highway-based landing strips are considered better than fixed airbases, as the latter can be targeted in a conflict situation.

In addition to its military significance, the ELF will also be useful during humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations. As the Northeast region, including Assam, is prone to floods, landslides and other natural calamities, the ELF can facilitate and speed up rescue efforts and relief supplies in remote areas.

Strategic significance of the ELF

Located at a distance of less than 300 kilometres from the Line of Actual Control with China, the ELF is a key addition in India’s military infrastructure in the North East. It can accommodate frontline fighter jets weighing up to 40 tonnes and transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) weighing up to 74 tonnes during emergencies, providing significant operational ease.

Until now, India had ELFs in the western, northern and central regions. The Dibrugarh-Moran ELF marks the expansion of India’s strategic infrastructure to the sensitive North East region, which has proximity to the India-China border. Several Indian Air Force bases are located along the LAC, including a second Rafale squadron in Hashimara, Tezpur, Jorhat, and Chabua.

On the other side of the LAC, China has built at least seven air bases. In a war situation, there is a possibility that Indian airbases could be targeted by China. In such a situation, the Emergency Landing Facility could come to the rescue.

Written by OpIndia Staff
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