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Infrastructure – Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday marked a significant milestone in the Northeast by landing at the region’s first Emergency Landing Facility in Assam’s Dibrugarh district. The event underscored the government’s push to strengthen both strategic infrastructure and civilian connectivity in a region long considered vital for national security and economic growth.

Emergency Landing Facility Inaugurated in Dibrugarh

The Prime Minister arrived aboard an Indian Air Force C-130J aircraft that departed from the Chabua airbase before touching down at the newly developed facility along the Moran Bypass. The landing formally inaugurated the Emergency Landing Facility, the first such installation in Northeast India.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma described the occasion as historic, noting that the project enhances the region’s preparedness and operational capabilities. Following the landing, the Prime Minister observed an aerial demonstration featuring fighter aircraft, transport planes and helicopters. The Indian Air Force had earlier conducted successful trial runs on the 4.2-kilometre stretch to validate its operational readiness.

Strategic Importance Near the LAC

Officials highlighted the strategic value of the facility, pointing out that the Line of Actual Control in Arunachal Pradesh lies only a few hundred kilometres away. Designed in coordination with the Indian Air Force, the Emergency Landing Facility can support both military and civilian aircraft during emergencies.

The infrastructure has been developed as a dual-use asset. It is capable of handling fighter jets weighing up to 40 tonnes and transport aircraft with a maximum take-off weight of 74 tonnes. According to an official statement, the facility will play a critical role during natural disasters and other urgent situations, enabling swift deployment of rescue teams and relief supplies across the Northeast.

Major Bridge to Improve Guwahati Connectivity

During his visit, the Prime Minister also inaugurated several development projects aimed at improving transport, digital systems and public services. Among the key initiatives was the opening of the Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu, a six-lane bridge built across the Brahmaputra River at an estimated cost of Rs 3,030 crore.

The extradosed prestressed concrete bridge connects Guwahati with North Guwahati and is the first of its kind in the Northeast. With its completion, travel time between the two points is expected to be reduced to about seven minutes, significantly easing daily commuting.

Given the region’s vulnerability to earthquakes, advanced engineering measures were incorporated into the bridge design. These include base isolation technology using friction pendulum bearings to absorb seismic shocks. High-performance stay cables have been installed to ensure structural durability. In addition, a Bridge Health Monitoring System has been integrated to provide real-time assessments, enabling early detection of potential issues and enhancing long-term safety.

National Data Centre to Strengthen Digital Infrastructure

Another major announcement was the inauguration of a National Data Centre in Kamrup district. The facility has a sanctioned power load of 8.5 megawatts and an average rack capacity of 10 kilowatts per rack. It is expected to host mission-critical applications for various government departments.

The centre will also function as a Disaster Recovery hub for other National Data Centres across the country, reinforcing digital resilience and data security in the region.

Electric Buses Rolled Out Under PM-eBus Sewa Scheme

As part of efforts to promote sustainable urban mobility, the Prime Minister flagged off 225 electric buses under the PM-eBus Sewa Scheme. The buses will operate in Guwahati, Nagpur, Bhavnagar and Chandigarh. Of the total, 100 buses have been allocated to Guwahati.

The government estimates that more than 50 lakh citizens will benefit from improved access to clean and affordable public transport. The move is expected to contribute to reduced emissions, enhanced connectivity and better quality of urban life.

Together, the projects launched during the visit reflect a broader strategy focused on infrastructure development, national security preparedness and digital transformation in the Northeast.