The Indian Air Force has begun trial operations at the Northeast’s first Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) on a highway airstrip at Moran in Assam’s Dibrugarh district, ahead of its formal inauguration scheduled for February 14 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Advanced fighter and transport aircraft, including Sukhoi-30 MKI, Rafale, indigenous Tejas jets, C-130J Hercules and AN-32 aircraft, carried out landing and take-off manoeuvres on the specially developed 4.2-kilometre stretch of National Highway-127. The trials, which began on February 11, will continue till February 13 as part of final preparations for the Prime Minister’s visit.
The aerial activity drew large crowds from nearby towns and villages, with students, children and residents lining vantage points along the highway to witness the historic operations. Locals cheered as the aircraft touched down and rapidly took off, showcasing the IAF’s operational flexibility and combat readiness.
Officials said the Moran Emergency Landing Facility represents a major strategic asset, providing an alternative runway for military aircraft during emergencies or wartime scenarios when conventional airbases may be unavailable or under threat. On February 14, the Prime Minister’s aircraft is set to make history by landing directly on the highway airstrip — the first such landing by a sitting Prime Minister in the Northeast.
Following the landing, the Prime Minister will formally inaugurate the facility and witness a full-scale aerial demonstration by the IAF. To ensure smooth conduct of the trials and the main event, traffic on NH-127 has been diverted via the old NH-37 through Moran town until February 14.
District and police authorities, in close coordination with IAF officials, have put elaborate security and logistical arrangements in place. Officials stated that the successful completion of the trial runs will pave the way for the grand inauguration, firmly establishing Moran as a key node in India’s expanding strategic aviation infrastructure in the Northeast.
