Guwahati, June 29: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday announced that the state’s first emergency landing facility (ELF) for fighter jets and civilian aircraft is being constructed on a stretch of National Highway 2 near Moran in Dibrugarh, and is expected to be ready by October this year.
This marks the first such project in the entire Northeast, aimed at bolstering disaster response, defence preparedness, and civil aviation safety.
Inspecting the site at Jatiyani Village, Sarma said a 4.2-km stretch between Polo Club in Khatkhati and Rassipathar, part of an 11-km four-lane highway segment, is being developed with the capacity to handle landings by Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter jets like Rafale, Sukhoi-30, and Tejas.
The road will also double as a runway during emergencies and natural disasters.
“We are targeting October for completion,” the Chief Minister said. “The Indian Air Force is supervising the technical requirements. Once ready, we plan to host an air show to showcase the capability.”
Sarma emphasized that the facility could also be used by civilian aircraft in emergencies, especially when landing at Dibrugarh airport becomes unviable. Additionally, during floods, helicopters could land on this stretch to support relief efforts.
Sarma also revealed that the central government has approved two more highway-based ELFs in the state—one in Lower Assam between Barama and Tihu, and another between Hojai-Lanka and Lumding in Central Assam. He said work on these will begin soon.
“We are in talks with the Centre to explore setting up ELFs at intervals of 50 to 100 km across key highway routes in Assam,” he said, highlighting the project’s strategic and security significance.
The ELF is being implemented by the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) in collaboration with the Indian Air Force. Once operational, it is expected to significantly strengthen Assam’s logistical and defence infrastructure, especially in the disaster-prone eastern corridor.
During the site visit, the Chief Minister was accompanied by Education Minister Ranoj Pegu, Industries Minister Bimal Bora, MLAs Chakradhar Gogoi, Taranga Gogoi, Susanta Borgohain, ATDC Chairman Rituparna Baruah, Group Captain Ashish Dhankhar of the IAF, and NHIDCL General Manager Rupesh Kumar, among other senior officials.
