Modi lands on Northeast’s first emergency landing strip

This ELF is a portion of the road, constructed with a specific density of concrete to allow operations for all types of aircraft — fighters, transport and helicopters.

The PM inaugurated the facility in the poll-bound state by making the first landing on the 4.2-km stretch of a highway. This stretch can be used by the armed forces in case of an exigency if airbases get damaged.

PM Modi also inaugurated several projects, including a bridge on the Brahmaputra, the Indian Institute of Management Guwahati and a data centre for the northeastern region. The six-lane bridge will cut travel time between Guwahati and North Guwahati to just seven minutes from 30 minutes.

The four-lane ELF project, conceptualised in 2021, was completed in 2025 at a cost of Rs 100 crore.

Such IAF landings on highways have been done in other parts of the country, including in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. The National Highways Authority of India has planned 19 more landing strips, including two each in Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir, one each in Punjab and UP and three each in Rajasthan and Gujarat.

Later, Modi drove to the venue nearby, from where he witnessed an aerial display of IAF fighter and transport aircraft along with helicopters.

During the 20-minute air show, the IAF demonstrated touch-and-go operations and evacuation procedures, giving the public a first-hand look at how emergency missions are carried out. Rafale jets, Sukhoi aircraft and the C-130J participated in the display.

An ELF means Army personnel can reach a particular region that has no regular runways during conflicts, emergencies, or natural disasters.

Beyond military utility, these landing strips can be used during rescue operations caused by any natural calamity.