Assam is set to witness a major and historic event today as Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the state to attend a series of important programmes related to defence infrastructure, connectivity, digital development and urban transport. The visit will include the inspection of the region’s first Emergency Landing Facility (ELF), inauguration of a major bridge over the Brahmaputra, and the launch of development projects worth more than Rs 5,450 crore.
According to official information, the Prime Minister will first arrive at the Emergency Landing Facility located on the Moran Bypass in Dibrugarh at around 10:30 AM. During his visit, he will observe a special aerial display featuring fighter jets, transport aircraft and helicopters. This will mark the first time such an event is being held at the newly developed facility, making the occasion significant for both the region and the country.
The Emergency Landing Facility is the first infrastructure of its kind in the Northeast and has been built in coordination with the Indian Air Force. The facility has been designed as a dual-use infrastructure, which means it can be used for both defence and civilian purposes when required. The runway is capable of handling fighter aircraft weighing up to 40 tonnes and transport aircraft with a maximum take-off weight of up to 74 tonnes. Officials believe that this facility will become an important strategic asset for the Northeast because it will allow quick landing and take-off of aircraft during emergencies, natural disasters and relief operations. In times of floods, earthquakes or other disasters, the facility is expected to help speed up rescue work and the movement of essential supplies.
After completing the programme in Dibrugarh, the Prime Minister will travel to Guwahati, where he is scheduled to inspect the newly constructed Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu at around 1 PM. The bridge, built across the Brahmaputra River, connects Guwahati with North Guwahati and is expected to significantly improve daily travel between the two sides of the river. Constructed at an estimated cost of about Rs 3,030 crore, the six-lane bridge is the first extradosed prestressed concrete bridge of its kind in the Northeast region.
Engineers have used advanced technology while building the bridge, keeping in mind the fact that the region falls in a high seismic zone. The structure includes modern safety features such as base isolation using friction pendulum bearings, which help reduce the impact of earthquakes. High-performance stay cables have also been installed to improve the strength and durability of the bridge. In addition, a Bridge Health Monitoring System has been put in place. This system will continuously monitor the condition of the bridge and help authorities detect any possible structural problems at an early stage. With the new bridge becoming operational, travel time between Guwahati and North Guwahati is expected to reduce to about seven minutes, providing major relief to daily commuters and transport operators.
Later in the day, at around 1:30 PM, the Prime Minister will attend a public function at Lachit Ghat in Guwahati, where he will inaugurate and lay the foundation stones of multiple development projects worth more than Rs 5,450 crore. These projects are aimed at strengthening connectivity, improving digital services, supporting higher education and promoting cleaner public transport in different parts of the country.
One of the key projects to be inaugurated is the National Data Centre for the Northeastern Region at Amingaon in Kamrup district. This modern facility has been designed to support important government digital systems and applications. With a total sanctioned power load of 8.5 MW and an average rack capacity of 10 kW, the centre will host mission-critical digital platforms used by several government departments. It will also act as a disaster recovery centre for other national data centres, ensuring that digital services remain operational even during emergencies. Officials say the project is an important step in strengthening the digital infrastructure of the Northeast and is in line with the Digital India mission.
The Prime Minister will also inaugurate the permanent campus of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Guwahati. The institute is expected to play an important role in expanding opportunities for higher education and management studies in the region. Educational experts believe that the presence of a full-fledged IIM campus in Assam will not only benefit students from the Northeast but will also attract learners from other parts of the country, helping improve the academic environment of the region.
Another major highlight of the programme will be the flagging off of more than 225 electric buses under the PM-eBus Sewa Scheme. Out of these, 100 buses will operate in Guwahati, while 50 buses each will be deployed in Nagpur and Bhavnagar, and 25 buses in Chandigarh. The introduction of electric buses is expected to provide clean, affordable and reliable transport services to millions of passengers. Officials estimate that more than 50 lakh citizens will benefit from the improved public transport system, while the shift to electric vehicles will also help reduce air pollution in urban areas.