Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Assam on Saturday, arriving at the Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) on Moran Bypass in Dibrugarh at approximately 10:30 am. His visit will begin with an aerial display showcasing fighter jets, transport aircraft, and helicopters. At 1 pm, he will inaugurate the Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu, a newly constructed bridge over the Brahmaputra River in Guwahati, followed by the launch of various projects valued over Rs 5,450 crore at Lachit Ghat around 1:30 pm.
The ELF at Moran is a pioneering infrastructure project in Northeast India, developed in collaboration with the Indian Air Force. It is designed for emergency landings and takeoffs for both military and civil aircraft, thereby enhancing emergency response capabilities, particularly during natural disasters or strategic operations. The ELF can accommodate fighter aircraft up to 40 tonnes and transport aircraft with a maximum take-off weight of 74 tonnes.
The Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu, costing approximately Rs 3,030 crore, is the first extradosed bridge in the region, boasting six lanes and significantly reducing travel time between Guwahati and North Guwahati to just 7 minutes. Due to the area’s susceptibility to seismic activity, the bridge utilizes base isolation technology and high-performance stay cables, ensuring durability and safety. It also includes a Bridge Health Monitoring System (BHMS) for ongoing condition assessment and early damage detection.
Additionally, PM Modi will inaugurate the National Data Centre for the Northeastern Region in Amingaon, Kamrup, which has a sanctioned load capacity of 8.5 MW. This state-of-the-art facility will support critical applications for government operations while serving as a Disaster Recovery centre for national data storage. This initiative aligns with the Digital India vision, aimed at strengthening the region’s ICT infrastructure.
The Prime Minister’s itinerary also includes the inauguration of IIM Guwahati, which is set to enhance higher education and management studies in Northeast India. Furthermore, he will flag off 225 electric buses under the PM-eBus Sewa Scheme across multiple cities: 100 for Guwahati, 50 for Nagpur, 50 for Bhavnagar, and 25 for Chandigarh. This initiative is expected to benefit over 5 million residents by improving access to clean and reliable public transport, significantly enhancing urban mobility and quality of life in these areas.