Rafale, MIG, Hercules to Land on this Highway in Assam,CM Inspects Landing Site

The ELF is being constructed between Polo Club in Khatkhati and Tiloijan on an 11-km four-lane highway segment.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday announced that the Northeast’s first highway-based emergency landing facility (ELF), located on the Dibrugarh–Moran stretch of the National Highway 2 (NH-2), is set to become operational by October 2025.

The ELF, a strategic infrastructure project, will enable fighter jets like Rafale, Tejas, MIG, Hercules, and AN-32 to land and take off on a 4.2-km stretch of road in times of emergency.

While speaking to media, Assam CM said, “The government of India has constructed an Emergency Landing Facility in Moran. On this runway, aircraft like Rafale, Sukhoi can also land. We believe that we can activate this facility by October.”

“I inspected the Emergency Landing Facility and also held a meeting with the Air Force, National Highway officials, district administration”, he added.

“The Government of India has already approved two more ELF, one at Boroma–Tihu in lower Assam and another between Nagaon and Lumding at Sankardevnagar. We will inaugurate this one first and then take up work on the others,” he stated.

However, the ELF is being constructed between Polo Club in Khatkhati and Tiloijan on an 11-km four-lane highway segment.

During times of war or natural disasters, the road can serve as a makeshift airstrip for the Indian Air Force, ensuring strategic readiness in Upper Assam.

The project is a collaborative effort between the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and the Indian Air Force’s airfield construction division. An Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower has been established, and temporary fencing is in place to prevent any intrusion during aircraft operations. However, the road will remain open for public transportation under normal circumstances.

Notably, the full 11-km Moran Bypass stretch has been operational for public traffic since April 1, while a formal inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected soon.

This marks a landmark development for the region and a significant boost to India’s defense preparedness in the Northeast.

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