Assam is set to get its first highway-based emergency landing strip, with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announcing on Thursday that the facility along the Dibrugarh–Moran stretch of the National Highway will be inaugurated in February.
Speaking to the press during a welfare scheme seed-capital distribution program at Khowang, Dibrugarh, Sarma said the Centre may give the project a high-profile launch. “There is a possibility that the Prime Minister may inaugurate this advanced landing facility in his aircraft. If not, we will try to involve the Defence Minister,” he added.
The 4.2-km highway strip in Moran is designed to accommodate both civilian aircraft and Indian Air Force fighter jets, including Sukhoi and Rafale platforms. Sarma had earlier noted, “If an aircraft cannot land at Dibrugarh airport for any reason, this highway strip will act as an alternative.”
The project is being implemented by the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) and will be the first of its kind in the Northeast. The Centre has also approved two more highway-based emergency landing strips in Assam — one along the Boroma–Tihu stretch in Lower Assam and another between Nagaon and Lumding at Sankardevnagar.
Once operational, the landing strip is expected to enhance strategic flexibility for the Armed Forces along the sensitive Northeast frontier and strengthen civil aviation preparedness during emergencies.
The Chief Minister further revealed plans to set up helipads at regular intervals along major highways, particularly in highland areas prone to flooding. His aim is to create helipads every 50–100 km and transform the Numaligarh–Dibrugarh–Tinsukia corridor into a modern, resilient transport and emergency-response corridor.
