PM Modi opens North East's first highway airstrip in Assam

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the highway-based emergency landing facility (ELF) at Moran in Assam’s Dibrugarh district.

The Prime Minister landed on the emergency runway at Moran with a Hercules C-130 J aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF).

Several combat aircrafts of the Indian Air Force conducted the fly past over the venue while aircrafts like the Sukhoi 30 MKI, Rafale and the indigenously made Advanced Light Helicopter of the Indian Air Force.


While the Sukhoi 30 MKI and Rafale aircraft also landed on the highway-based ELF amid huge cheer from the lakhs of people who had gathered there to witness the event.

This is the first such highway-based emergency landing facility in the northeastern states. Later, addressing Booth level party workers in Guwahati, Modi said, “The landing of an Air Force aircraft on a highway in Moran reflects Assam’s growing strength. “

He said there was a time when Northeast India was associated with broken roads, but today, highways are being built where even aircraft can land.

On national security, the PM said the new emergency landing strip symbolises a New India that is fully prepared to defend itself.