Assam is set to witness a major infrastructural milestone as the Northeast’s first highway-based emergency landing strip, located on the Dibrugarh–Moran section of the National Highway, is expected to be fully operational by October 2025.
The update was shared by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday during the first day of his two-day visit to Upper Assam.
Speaking to reporters, Sarma said, “On the Demow–Moran stretch of the highway, we are developing a 4.2-km-long emergency landing strip that can accommodate both civilian aircraft and Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter jets, including Sukhoi and Rafale models. In cases where landing at Dibrugarh Airport is not possible, this stretch will serve as an alternative runway.”
The airstrip is being developed by the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL). According to the Chief Minister, the IAF is actively inspecting the site and has expressed optimism that trial landings could begin by September, ahead of the facility becoming fully functional in October.
Highlighting the strategic importance of the project, Sarma said discussions are underway with the IAF to ensure that the strip is capable of handling advanced fighter aircraft operations, and could potentially serve as a venue for future air shows.
“This is the first such landing facility in the entire Northeast, and it is a crucial component of our regional preparedness strategy,” he noted.
The Centre has also approved two additional highway airstrips—one at Boroma–Tihu in Lower Assam, and another at Sankardevnagar, between Nagaon and Lumding. “We will inaugurate the Dibrugarh–Moran strip first and then proceed with the other two,” the Chief Minister confirmed.
In addition to the airstrip, Sarma also revealed plans for helipads to be constructed at regular intervals along major highway routes. “We are considering helipads every 50 to 100 kilometres, particularly in highland areas, to assist in flood-time relief operations when regular landing areas become inaccessible,” he said.
The initiative, according to the Chief Minister, is part of a larger vision to transform the Numaligarh–Dibrugarh–Tinsukia stretch into a modern and disaster-resilient corridor. These facilities are intended to bolster both military preparedness and civil disaster response capabilities in Assam.
Coordination efforts are ongoing between the Ministry of Defence, NHIDCL, and the Central Government to ensure timely implementation of the project.
Once completed, the highway landing strip will provide critical flexibility for the Armed Forces in the Northeast frontier, while also strengthening Assam’s civil aviation infrastructure during emergencies.
