New Delhi, April 5: In a major step to boost military infrastructure especially in the states bordering neighbouring countries, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has constructed emergency landing strips on 13 National Highways. This was announced by Union Surface Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday.
“A total of 29 such Emergency Landing Facilities (ELF) will be constructed. The work is going on in fast pace. I am personally monitoring the on-going construction work,” Gadkari added.
He said in the normal circumstances the ELF will be used like any other National Highway but during emergencies, IAF will take over, while the service road will be used for smooth flow of traffic. The first such facility was inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Gadkari in September 2021 at Barmer in Rajasthan.
According to Gadkari, this emergency landing facility is helpful not only during war but also natural calamities in order to take up rescue, relief and rehabilitation tasks.
The first ELF is on NH – 925 at the Gandhav Bhakasar section, south of Barmer in Rajasthan and will be used for aircraft operations during emergencies on the Western borders with Pakistan. The clearance from IAF is necessary as it involves the high impact landing of the fighters starting with the Sukhoi – 30MKI fighter and the transport aircraft.
“Of the 29 ELF being constructed in the country, five will be in Assam, four in West Bengal, three each in Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan two in Jammu and Kashmir, These ELF will help in case of Operational Military needs towards the Northern and Eastern Sectors,” Gadkari explained.
Gadkari said the Prime Minister had always argued or Integrated Response to Disasters and ready availability of infrastructure is crucial at times of crisis. “It is with this idea of using NH for emergency landing facilties, the NHs are being constructed with a proper service roads which can be used by vehicles when the NH is being used by aircraft. This is a unique concept aimed at optimum utilization of road infrastructure,” he added.
EOM
