In a landmark event showcasing India’s defence preparedness, an aircraft carrying Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to land on the newly constructed Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) on the Dibrugarh-Moran stretch of National Highway 127 in Assam on 14 February. This will mark the opening of the first highway-based airstrip in the Northeast.
After arriving in Guwahati, PM Modi will fly in a military aircraft to Dibrugarh. However, instead of landing at Dibrugarh Airport, the plane will land on the newly prepared highway. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “The Prime Minister will not land at the Dibrugarh airport. Instead, his flight will land on a highway at Moran and spend some time there.”
A special aerial display has also been organised for the event. After the PM’s aircraft lands, Sukhoi and Rafale jets of the Indian Air Force will land on the ELF. The CM said that the demonstration will last for around 30 to 40 minutes.
The 4.2-kilometer landing strip has been prepared with reinforced concrete to accommodate both military and civilian planes in emergency. There is no central divider on the road to facilitate its use as a runway. Fences have been installed on both sides of the road to prevent the entry of people and animals during flight activity. Temporary roadside shops have also been removed as part of safety measures for the event. The Dibrugarh district administration has imposed restrictions on public and vehicle entry to the ELF area starting February 6 for security reasons.
This will be the third visit of the PM in three months. Before leaving for Dibrugarh, he will inaugurate the Kumar Bhaskar Varma bridge connecting Guwahati and North Guwahati. He will also inaugurate the temporary campus of the Indian Institute of Management, Guwahati. Moreover, the PM will also flag off 100 electric buses for Guwahati.
The Moran ELF holds immense strategic importance due to its location in upper Assam, just a few hundred kilometres from the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China and the border with Myanmar. The highway will be useful for fighter operations in case the two nearby facilities, the Dibrugarh airport and Chabua Air Force station becomes unavailable in any conflict situation.
