Modi Tests Northeast's First Emergency Landing Facility

Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed his aircraft at the Northeast's first Emergency Landing Facility in Assam on Saturday, marking a historic milestone in the region's infrastructure and strategic capabilities. The landing occurred around 10:50 a.m. on the 4.2-kilometer stretch along the Moran Bypass in Dibrugarh district, where Modi arrived aboard an Indian Air Force C-130J Super Hercules after departing from the nearby Chabua airfield.

Modi was received at Chabua by Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and other senior officials. The facility, constructed at a cost of 100 crore rupees in coordination with the Indian Air Force, serves as a dual-use runway for military and civilian aircraft during emergencies. Officials described it as a critical asset for rapid response to natural disasters or security needs, given the Northeast's borders with China, Bangladesh and Myanmar. The strip can accommodate fighter jets weighing up to 40 tonnes and transport aircraft with a maximum takeoff weight of 74 tonnes.

Following the touchdown, Modi observed a 20-minute aerial demonstration by the Indian Air Force, which...