Modi Makes Historic Landing On Highway-cum-runway ELF In Assam

Guwahati: Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a historic landing at the northeast’s first emergency landing facility (ELF) in his C-130J aircraft in Moran, Upper Assam, at the start of his one-day tour of Assam, which is scheduled to go to polls on Saturday.

The Prime Minister, who took off from Chabua airport after his arrival and landed at ELF in Moran on a stretch of National Highway-37, also witnessed a demonstration of the Indian Air Force taking off and landing fighter jets, including Sukhoi Su-30MKI and Rafale.

The newly constructed Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) on the Dibrugarh-Moran section of National Highway-37, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, was also significant as it is located less than 300 kilometers from the Line of Actual Control with China. India has strengthened its operational posture along a sensitive border by turning a highway in Assam into a potential runway for warplanes.

ELF at Moran Bypass is the first such facility in Northeast India and has been developed in coordination with the Indian Air Force to enable landing and take-off of military and civilian aircraft in emergency situations.

Designed as a dual-use infrastructure, ELF can carry combat aircraft with a weight of up to 40 tons and transport aircraft with a maximum take-off weight of up to 74 tons. Officials said the facility will play an important role in emergency response, ensuring rapid deployment of rescue and relief operations during natural disasters and meeting strategic needs in the region.

Earlier, Mr Modi was welcomed by Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal when he arrived in Dibrugarh on his one-day visit.