Modi inaugurates Northeast’s first Emergency Landing Facility in Dibrugarh
Modi inaugurates Northeast’s first Emergency Landing Facility in Dibrugarh
Prime Minister Modi unveils Northeast India’s first Emergency Landing Facility in Dibrugarh, a 4.2-km dual-use runway built with IAF support to handle fighters and transport aircraft.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Northeast India’s first Emergency Landing Facility in Dibrugarh, Assam, a 4.2-km dual-use runway built on Moran Bypass. The facility, designed in coordination with the Indian Air Force, can handle fighter jets up to 40 tonnes and transport aircraft up to 74 tonnes, marking a major boost for regional defence readiness and emergency logistics.
The new ELF represents a significant upgrade in the region’s ability to respond quickly to crises, while also providing a strategic backup for military air operations near the country’s northern frontier. The runway’s dual-use design enables both landing and take-off for a range of aircraft, expanding options for rapid deployment when needed.
Located close to the China border, the facility is paired with the broader plan to strengthen defence and infrastructure in Assam. To mark the occasion, Modi’s visit also highlighted plans to bolster the region’s connectivity and digital infrastructure, with ancillary projects aimed at improving public transport and emergency response capabilities.
The facility’s unique feature is its use of a reinforced corridor along a National Highway at Moran, which will serve as a proving ground for highway-turned-airstrip operations. Modi’s aircraft are expected to land on the highway-turned-runway and take off from the same stretch, illustrating a pragmatic approach to multi-use infrastructure that can be mobilised quickly in times of need.
Beyond the ELF, the visit underscored a broader push to accelerate development in the Northeast. On the agenda were additional infrastructure initiatives designed to ramp up defence preparedness, improve regional connectivity, and enhance digital capacity, reinforcing Assam’s role as a gateway to the region’s growth and security.
The inauguration comes as officials and residents alike anticipate broader benefits from increased airlift capabilities, faster disaster relief, and more robust strategic reach for the armed forces, all while signaling a commitment to transforming the Northeast into a more resilient and connected part of the country.
