4.2-km airstrip on Moran Bypass to boost defence readiness, connectivity
February 14, 2026: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday carried out a landmark landing at Moran in Assam, inaugurating the Northeast’s first Emergency Landing Facility (ELF). The airstrip, built along a national highway stretch on the Moran Bypass in Dibrugarh district, is designed to allow Indian Air Force fighter aircraft to take off and land during emergencies. Modi became the first to land at the facility, formally dedicating it to the nation and marking what officials described as a major step in strengthening national security preparedness in the region.
Spanning 4.2 kilometres and developed at a cost of around ₹100 crore, the facility integrates aviation capability into highway infrastructure to enable rapid deployment during crises. Such emergency landing strips are part of a broader strategy to enhance operational flexibility in strategically sensitive areas, particularly in border states. Officials termed it the first infrastructure of its kind in the Northeast, underscoring the Centre’s focus on defence and connectivity expansion.
During his one-day visit to Assam, Modi is also scheduled to launch and dedicate development projects worth over ₹5,500 crore across multiple sectors. He earlier arrived at Chabua airfield, where he was received by Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal. The visit comes at a politically significant time as the state heads toward elections.