HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, June 29: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday visited Jatiyani Village in Moran to inspect the ongoing construction of the Northeast’s first Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) on a national highway.
The ELF is being developed on a 4.2-km stretch of the Moran Bypass under the Dibrugarh–Moran NH-2 project in coordination with the Indian Air Force and is expected to be operational by October this year.
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Speaking to the media after the inspection, the chief minister said, “This will be the first emergency landing facility in the entire North East region. From civilian aircraft to advanced fighter jets like Sukhoi and Rafale, all will be able to land here. It’s a big step forward in disaster preparedness and national security.”
He added that he had reviewed the project with officials from the district administration, NHIDCL, and the Indian Air Force, and all minor issues had been resolved to expedite the remaining work.
“During the opening of this strip, I have requested the Indian Air Force to hold an air show and bring in some of their fighter jets,” Sarma said.
The ELF, once completed, will be capable of handling landings by defence aircraft including MIG, Tejas, Hercules, and AN-32.
The project, constructed with advanced specifications, is intended to serve as a makeshift airstrip in times of war or natural calamities.
Located between Polo Club in Khatkhati and Rassipathar on the under-construction 11-km four-lane stretch of NH-2, the facility also includes temporary fencing to prevent intrusions during operations and an Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower for flight management.
The Chief Minister’s Office, in a post on ‘X’ said, “Implemented by NHIDCL, this strategic project will enhance disaster response and national security readiness.”
The road will be reserved exclusively for aircraft operations during emergencies and will otherwise remain open to public transport.
The ELF is a joint initiative between the National Highway Authority and the Indian Air Force’s airfield construction division.
The Chief Minister remarked that the road from Moran Town to Tiloijan has already been opened to traffic since April 1 and is awaiting formal inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In addition to the Moran facility, the Chief Minister announced that the central government will develop two more ELF projects in the state—one between Tihu and Barama in western Assam and another between Nagaon and Lumding (Sankardev Nagar) in central Assam.
Sarma further revealed plans to enhance flood preparedness across Upper Assam through the construction of permanent helipads along key national highways.
“We are in talks with the Central government. It is being planned for the entire stretch from Numaligarh to Dibrugarh to Tinsukia. If there are such high floods that helicopters cannot land in any existing facility, then these helipads above the highest flood levels will serve as critical infrastructure,” he said.
The proposed initiatives, which include both emergency landing strips and helipads, are part of a broader vision to strengthen Assam’s emergency response capacity and strategic infrastructure. (With inputs from PTI)
