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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will land on a newly constructed emergency landing facility on a highway at Moran in Assam on February 14, followed by Indian Air Force Rafale and Sukhoi fighter jets, marking the Northeast’s first highway-based airstrip.

The aircraft carrying the Prime Minister will touch down on the Dibrugarh-Moran stretch of National Highway 127, showcasing India’s defence preparedness. This will be Modi’s third visit to the poll-bound state in less than three months.

After arriving in Guwahati, Modi will travel to upper Assam aboard a military aircraft. Instead of landing at Dibrugarh airport, the aircraft will land on the highway airstrip.

“The Prime Minister will not land at the Dibrugarh airport. Instead, his flight will land on a highway at Moran and spend some time there,” Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

A special aerial demonstration has been planned following the Prime Minister’s landing. Rafale and Sukhoi fighter jets of the Indian Air Force will land on the emergency landing facility, with the display expected to last 30 to 40 minutes, Sarma added.

Also read: PM Modi to visit Assam on Feb 14: Himanta

 

The 4.2-km-long landing strip has been constructed with reinforced concrete to support both military and civilian aircraft during emergencies. The highway has no central divider to allow its use as a runway, while fencing has been erected on both sides to prevent the movement of people and animals during flight operations. Temporary roadside structures have also been removed as part of security arrangements.

The Dibrugarh district administration has imposed restrictions on public and vehicular movement in the area from February 6.

Before proceeding to Moran, Modi will inaugurate the Kumar Bhaskar Varma bridge linking Guwahati and North Guwahati, the temporary campus of the Indian Institute of Management, Guwahati, and flag off 100 electric buses for the city.

The Moran emergency landing facility holds strategic significance due to its proximity to the Line of Actual Control with China and the India-Myanmar border. The highway airstrip could be used for fighter operations if nearby facilities such as Dibrugarh airport or the Chabua Air Force Station become unavailable during a conflict.