PM witnesses IAF display as Sukhoi Su-30MKI, Rafale take off at Dibrugarh's Moran ELF

The Indian Air Force on Saturday conducted an air display at the Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) on the Moran Bypass in Dibrugarh, showcasing fighter jets including the Sukhoi Su-30MKI and Dassault Rafale. The display was witnessed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries.

Designed as a dual-use infrastructure, the ELF can handle fighter aircraft weighing up to 40 tonnes and transport aircraft with a maximum take-off weight of 74 tonnes. Officials said the facility will play a crucial role in emergency response, enabling swift deployment of rescue and relief operations during natural disasters and meeting strategic requirements in the region.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu — a bridge over the Brahmaputra River that connects Guwahati and North Guwahati.

The 2.86-kilometre-long bridge was built at a cost of around Rs 3,030 crore. The six-lane extradosed Prestressed Concrete (PSC) bridge connects Guwahati with North Guwahati and is the first extradosed bridge in Northeast India.

It will cut travel time between Guwahati and North Guwahati to seven minutes. Considering the high seismicity of the region, the bridge incorporates base isolation technology using friction pendulum bearings.

High-performance stay cables have been used to ensure durability and long-term structural performance.

Moreover, a Bridge Health Monitoring System (BHMS) has also been incorporated for real-time condition monitoring, early damage detection, and improved safety and service life of the extradosed bridge.

Earlier in the day, PM Modi inaugurated the Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) on the National Highway in Moran in Dibrugarh district — the first such facility in the entire northeastern region.

He also witnessed an air show by the Indian Air Force soon after the ELF was inaugurated. The air show included Rafale, Sukhoi, and MiG fighter aircraft.

The fighter planes successfully took off and landed on the highway strip.

According to officials, at least one lakh people gathered to witness the historic occasion.

Located in Upper Assam, the ELF is being viewed as a major strategic addition to India's military infrastructure in the Northeast, offering the Indian Air Force enhanced operational flexibility in a region that has witnessed heightened tensions in recent years.

The Moran ELF has been designed to function as an alternative landing option in situations where Dibrugarh Airport or the Chabua Air Force Station becomes unavailable due to operational constraints or emergency scenarios.

For the Indian Air Force, this facility significantly strengthens its ability to respond swiftly to contingencies near sensitive border areas.

The 4.2-kilometre-long reinforced concrete stretch has been engineered to serve as an emergency runway capable of handling both military and civilian aircraft.

Unlike conventional fixed airbases that may be vulnerable to targeting or disruption during conflict, highway-based landing facilities provide critical mobility and an element of operational surprise.

Later in the day, the Prime Minister is scheduled to inaugurate and flag off development projects worth over Rs 5,450 crore across Assam, aimed at strengthening connectivity, digital infrastructure, higher education, and urban mobility in the Northeast. Around 1 pm, he will inspect the newly built Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu over the Brahmaputra before inaugurating multiple projects at Lachit Ghat in Guwahati.

Additionally, over 225 electric buses under the PM-eBus Sewa Scheme will be flagged off in Guwahati, Nagpur, Bhavnagar, and Chandigarh. Officials said the rollout of e-bus services in these cities is expected to benefit more than 50 lakh citizens by providing clean, affordable, and reliable public transport, improving urban mobility and overall quality of life.

(With inputs from IANS)