Assam is poised to inaugurate its first highway-based emergency landing strip along the Dibrugarh–Moran stretch of the National Highway, with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announcing the facility’s launch in February. The project may receive a notable inauguration by the Prime Minister or the Defence Minister. Spanning 4.2 kilometers, the strip is capable of accommodating civilian aircraft as well as Indian Air Force fighter jets like the Sukhoi and Rafale. Sarma highlighted that this alternative landing option is crucial if Dibrugarh airport is inaccessible. The National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) is executing the project, which is unique to the Northeast, where additional emergency landing strips have also been approved for locations between Boroma and Tihu, as well as Sankardevnagar. The operationalization of this landing strip is anticipated to enhance military strategic capabilities in the Northeast region while improving civil aviation responsiveness in emergencies. Furthermore, the Chief Minister detailed plans to establish helipads along major highways, especially in flood-prone highland areas, with an intention to create one every 50–100 kilometers to modernize and strengthen emergency response along the Numaligarh–Dibrugarh–Tinsukia corridor.
