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Assam's Emergency Airstrip on Highway Set for PM Modi Inauguration

A new 4.2-kilometre emergency landing facility on National Highway 2 in Assam's Moran area is complete and slated for inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 14. This is the first such airstrip on an expressway in the Northeast, designed to host transport and fighter aircraft during combat operations. The development is strategically significant for military preparedness amid border tensions with Pakistan and China. During the inauguration, IAF Rafale and Sukhoi-30 jets will perform drills, while C-130 and AN-32 transport aircraft will conduct landing and take-off exercises.

Key Points: PM Modi to Inaugurate Assam Emergency Landing Strip on Feb 14

  • First NE expressway airstrip
  • Enhances combat readiness
  • For Rafale, Sukhoi, C-130 jets
  • Built on National Highway 2
  • Inauguration on Feb 14
2 min read

Emergency landing strip in Assam's Moran ready for inauguration next week

A 4.2-km emergency airstrip on NH-2 in Assam's Moran, ready for fighter jets and transport aircraft, to be inaugurated by PM Modi on February 14.

"The development assumes significance in light of the possibility of a two-front war. - Defence Officials"

New Delhi, Feb 9

Augmenting the Indian military's preparedness and response mechanism in any combat situation, the government has readied an emergency landing facility in the North-Eastern part of the country, adding to the existing networks of highways which could double up as airstrips for landing, as well as take-off for aircraft and fighter jets.​

​The Emergency landing airstrip in the Moran area of Assam has been completed and is likely to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 14.​

According to defence officials, a 4.2-kilometre-long strip has been built on National Highway Number 2 passing through Moran in Dibrugarh. This is the first emergency landing facility on an expressway in the Northeast.​

The development assumes significance in light of the possibility of a two-front war, as the nation faces a hostile situation on its borders with both Pakistan and China.​

During the inauguration, the Indian Air Force (IAF)'s Rafale and Sukhoi-30 fighter jets will perform touch-and-go drills, while fixed-wing transport aircraft C-130 and AN-32 will land on this airstrip and then perform take-off drills from there.​

The 4.2-km strip, built on National Highway Number 2, has been modelled on other Expressways in the country, which can host both transport and fighter jets during combat situations.​

On November 16, 2021, PM Modi had inaugurated an airstrip built on the Purvanchal Expressway near Sultanpur in Uttar Pradesh. The occasion grabbed the spotlight as the Prime Minister himself landed on this airstrip in a C-130J Super Hercules aircraft.​

Notably, the IAF is taking strides in strengthening the armed forces' preparedness with new fighters, weapons, airbases, helipads, and other modern weapons and equipment, while the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is working on developing Emergency Landing Facilities (ELFs), or landing strips, on highways to develop them as multi-purpose landing strips.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Good to see development in Assam. Hope this also brings more attention and investment to the overall infrastructure of the region, not just military.
R
Rohit P
The touch-and-go drills with Rafale jets will be a sight to see! Shows the strength of our Air Force. Proud moment for Dibrugarh and Assam.
S
Sarah B
While the strategic need is clear, I hope the environmental impact of such a massive strip on a highway in that ecosystem was thoroughly studied. Development and ecology must go hand in hand.
V
Vikram M
Dual-use infrastructure is smart planning. Our highways serving as airstrips is a great example of being prepared for any situation. A strong message to our neighbours.
K
Karthik V
The mention of a "two-front war" is concerning, but it's better to be prepared than sorry. Our forces need every advantage they can get. Salute to the IAF and BRO.

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