Mirage 2000 jet successfully landed on Yamuna expressway
IAF to land 8 combat jets on Agra-Lucknow expressway on November 21. [Representational Image] In Picture: A Mirage 2000 jet successfully landed on Yamuna expressway during a trial of landing a combat jet carried out by Indian Air Force on May 21, 2015.IANS

Fighter jets of the Indian Air Force successfully touched down on Uttar Pradesh's Agra-Lucknow Expressway, which was thrown open to public on Monday. Six Sukhoi Su-30MKI and Mirage 2000 jets took part in the exercise.

The expressway was inaugurated by UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav.

The IAF flew frontline and air-superiority fighter aircraft Su-30MKI from Trishul Air Base in Bareilly and Mirage 2000 from Gwalior Air Base.

The landing took place in Bangarmau in Unnao district, where a 2km stretch was specially prepared for such operations in the future.

NDTV reported of an incident where Sukhoi Su-30 was unable to land on its first attempt due to a dog straying on the road. The event also say three Sukhoi Su-30MKIs flying past. 

IAF had put in place several safety mechanisms like ensuring a bird-free zone, availability of emergency rescue vehicles and a temporary air traffic control. Before Monday's touchdown, trials were conducted by IAF on November 18.

The Agra-Lucknow Expressway is now the second such emergency runway location in India after IAF activated a similar strip on the Yamuna Expressway between Greater Noida and Agra in 2015.

The 302 km-long expressway has been a dream project of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav. The project was reportedly completed in a record time of 22 months and has cost Rs 13,200 crore. 

Several countries, including Pakistan, have prepared their highways and expressways for war-like emergency situations.

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