'Matter Of Immense Pride': PM Modi Highlights Importance Of Northeast's First Highway-Runway

Last Updated:February 14, 2026, 14:33 IST

PM Modi inaugurated the Northeast's first emergency landing facility in Assam, enhancing defence and disaster response. IAF showcased its capabilities with a 40-minute air show.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday highlighted the strategic importance of the Northeast’s first emergency landing facility (ELF) in Assam, describing it as “a matter of immense pride."

In a post on X, Prime Minister Modi said the facility would serve as a crucial asset both for defence purposes and during natural calamities.

“It is a matter of immense pride that the Northeast gets an Emergency Landing Facility. From a strategic point of view and during times of natural disasters, this facility is of great importance," the Prime Minister tweeted. He also shared images of the IAF’s aircraft taking off from the highway-runway.

Earlier in the day, PM Modi inaugurated the Rs 100-crore ELF on the Moran Bypass in Dibrugarh district. Marking the occasion, PM Modi landed at the 4.2-kilometre reinforced highway strip aboard a C-130J aircraft after taking off from Chabua airfield.

Following the inauguration, the Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted a 40-minute air show to demonstrate the operational capabilities of the new facility. A Rafale fighter jet took off from the highway-runway, while Tejas and Sukhoi jets, along with helicopters, also participated in the aerial display. The exercise showcased how stretches of national highways can be converted into functional runways in emergency situations when regular airbases are unavailable.

Constructed along National Highway-37, the dual-use ELF has been developed in coordination with the Air Force to facilitate emergency landings and take-offs of military as well as select civilian aircraft. The facility is capable of handling fighter jets weighing up to 40 tonnes and transport aircraft with a maximum take-off weight of 74 tonnes.

Apart from enhancing strategic preparedness in the border region, the ELF is expected to strengthen disaster-response capabilities by enabling rapid deployment of rescue and relief operations across the Northeast.

News india 'Matter Of Immense Pride': PM Modi Highlights Importance Of Northeast's First Highway-Runway

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