Townhall Times, New Delhi
Reporter: Bhavika Kalra
Dibrugarh | Feb 15, 2026
If you’re driving near Dibrugarh today, the road might look a little different. Prime Minister Narendra Modi just inaugurated the Northeast’s very first Emergency Landing Facility (ELF)—a specialized stretch of national highway that can double as a runway for fighter jets. It’s a massive step for India’s defense, and honestly, a pretty cool piece of engineering.
Accompanied by top IAF officials and the Assam government, the PM watched as fighter jets actually touched down on what is usually a civilian road. It wasn’t just for show; it was a proof of concept that in a crisis, our highways can become our airbases.
Why Dibrugarh? It’s All About Strategy
Location is everything here. Dibrugarh sits in a sensitive corner of the country, close to international borders. In the past, the Northeast often felt left behind in terms of high-tech infrastructure, but this project changes the narrative.
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The Backup Plan: If a regular airbase gets knocked out by a natural disaster or an attack, the IAF can’t just stop flying. This ELF gives them a “Plan B.”
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Quick Conversion: Under normal conditions, it’s a standard highway. But with a few phone calls and some quick traffic management, it turns into a fully operational airstrip with its own communication gear and ATC setup.
More Than Just War Games
While the military utility is the headline, the PM made a point to talk about the “dual-use” nature of this project.
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Disaster Response: The Northeast deals with some brutal floods and landslides. When roads get cut off and regular airports are flooded, these highway strips can be used to land heavy transport planes carrying food, medicine, and rescue teams.
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Regional Growth: You can’t land a Sukhoi on a flimsy road. To build this, the government had to massively reinforce the highway. This means better, stronger roads for local trade and commuters, too.
The Engineering Behind the “Double Life”
You can’t just land a fighter jet on any old tarmac—the weight and heat would shred it. This specific stretch near Dibrugarh used a specialized pavement design to handle the high-speed impact of military aircraft.
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The Demo: During the ceremony, IAF pilots showed exactly how it’s done, sticking the landing on the highway to the cheers of local residents.
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The Tech: It’s not just the road; it’s the temporary towers and safety protocols that can be activated in minutes.
A Gateway to the East
The PM’s speech hit on a recurring theme: the Northeast is no longer the “periphery” of India. It’s the gateway to Southeast Asia. Between new bridges, electrified railways, and now these “hybrid” runways, the region is becoming a strategic powerhouse.
Local pride was high at the event. For the people of Dibrugarh, seeing a fighter jet land in their “backyard” was a reminder of how much the region’s profile has grown. Defense experts are already calling this a model for future projects, with more “highway runways” planned for other sensitive border states.
The Bottom Line
The Dibrugarh ELF is a bit of a “two-birds-one-stone” situation. It bolsters national security while giving Assam top-tier road infrastructure. It’s a sign that India is getting smarter about how it builds—making sure every rupee spent on a road also helps protect the country.
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