PM Modi Lands at Historic Emergency Landing Facility in Assam, Inaugurates Major Infrastructure Projects
Assam is poised to experience a landmark moment this Saturday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at the pioneering Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) located on the Moran Bypass in Dibrugarh. During his visit, the Prime Minister will witness an impressive aerial display featuring fighter jets, transport aircraft, and helicopters, showcasing the strategic capabilities of this new infrastructure.
First-of-its-Kind Emergency Landing Facility in Northeast India
The ELF represents a significant milestone as the first facility of its kind in Northeast India. Constructed in close coordination with the Indian Air Force, it has been specially engineered to support the landing and take-off of both military and civil aircraft during emergencies. This dual-use infrastructure is designed to serve as a critical asset for emergency response, enabling the rapid deployment of rescue and relief operations in the event of natural disasters or strategic requirements across the Northeastern region.
Technical specifications of the ELF highlight its robust capacity: it can accommodate fighter aircraft weighing up to 40 tonnes and transport aircraft with a maximum take-off weight of 74 tonnes. This ensures versatility and readiness for various operational scenarios, enhancing regional security and disaster management capabilities.
Inauguration of Development Projects Worth Over Rs 5,450 Crore
Following his arrival at the ELF around 10:30 AM, Prime Minister Modi will proceed to inaugurate and flag off a series of development projects collectively valued at over Rs 5,450 crore. These initiatives are aimed at strengthening connectivity, digital infrastructure, higher education, and urban mobility in the North-Eastern Region, marking a substantial investment in the area's growth and modernization.
Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu: A Revolutionary Bridge Across the Brahmaputra
At approximately 1 PM, the Prime Minister will inspect the newly constructed Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu, a six-lane extradosed Prestressed Concrete (PSC) bridge spanning the River Brahmaputra. Built at a cost of around Rs 3,030 crore, this bridge is the first of its kind in Northeast India and serves as a vital link connecting Guwahati with North Guwahati.
Key features of the bridge include:
- Reduction of travel time between Guwahati and North Guwahati to just seven minutes, significantly improving regional connectivity.
- Incorporation of base isolation using friction pendulum bearings to withstand the region's high seismicity, ensuring structural resilience.
- Utilization of high-performance stay cables to guarantee durability and long-term structural performance.
- Integration of a Bridge Health Monitoring System (BHMS) for real-time condition monitoring, early damage detection, and enhanced safety and service life.
National Data Centre for the Northeastern Region
In a move to bolster digital infrastructure, PM Modi will inaugurate the National Data Centre for the Northeastern region at Amingaon in Kamrup district, Assam. This state-of-the-art facility boasts a total sanctioned load of 8.5 MW and an average rack capacity of 10 kW. It is designed to host mission-critical applications for various government departments and function as a Disaster Recovery centre for other National Data Centres across the country.
Aligned with the Digital India vision, this strategic initiative aims to strengthen the region's ICT backbone, ensuring robust, secure, and always-available digital infrastructure. This will empower governments in the Northeast to deliver essential citizen-centric services digitally, fostering greater efficiency and accessibility.
Enhancing Higher Education and Urban Mobility
The inauguration of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Guwahati is another highlight, expected to provide a major boost to higher and management education in the North-Eastern Region. This development underscores the government's commitment to advancing educational opportunities and skill development in the area.
Additionally, over 225 electric buses under the PM-eBus Sewa Scheme will be flagged off in four cities: Guwahati (100), Nagpur (50), Bhavnagar (50), and Chandigarh (25). The launch of e-bus operations is projected to benefit more than 50 lakh citizens by providing access to clean, affordable, and reliable public transport services. This initiative aims to improve urban mobility and enhance the quality of life, contributing to environmental sustainability and reduced pollution.
At around 1:30 PM, the Prime Minister will formally inaugurate and flag off these development projects at Lachit Ghat in Guwahati, culminating a day of significant announcements and infrastructure advancements for Assam and the broader Northeastern region.
