Modi inaugurates Northeast’s first Emergency Landing Facility in Assam
New Delhi, February 15. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 14 inaugurated the Northeast’s first Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) on the Moran Bypass in Dibrugarh district of Assam, marking a significant boost to the region’s strategic and disaster-response infrastructure.
Developed in coordination with the Indian Air Force (IAF), the dual-use facility is designed to serve both military and civilian aircraft during emergencies. Describing the project as a matter of “immense pride” for the Northeast, the Prime Minister said the ELF would hold critical importance from both strategic and humanitarian standpoints, particularly during natural disasters.
Shortly after the inauguration, the IAF staged an air display at the site. Fighter jets including the Sukhoi Su-30MKI and Dassault Rafale, along with other aircraft and helicopters, successfully carried out take-offs and landings on the specially reinforced highway stretch. The demonstration was witnessed by the Prime Minister, senior officials and an estimated crowd of nearly one lakh spectators.
Strategic and disaster-response capability
The 4.2-kilometre reinforced concrete corridor has been engineered to function as an emergency runway capable of accommodating fighter aircraft weighing up to 40 tonnes and transport aircraft with a maximum take-off weight of up to 74 tonnes.
To facilitate aircraft operations, the stretch has been constructed without a central road divider, ensuring unobstructed movement during take-offs and landings. Protective fencing has been installed along both sides, and temporary roadside structures were cleared to maintain operational readiness.
Situated in Upper Assam, the facility is being viewed as a key addition to India’s defence infrastructure in the Northeast, especially given its proximity to the India-China border. It will act as an alternative landing strip should the Dibrugarh Airport or the Chabua Air Force Station become unavailable due to operational or emergency circumstances.
Highway-based landing facilities such as the Moran ELF enhance redundancy and operational flexibility, offering the IAF greater mobility and the ability to respond swiftly to contingencies in sensitive frontier regions.
