What is emergency landing facility
Emergency landing facility is a highway runway which can be used as an air strip for the landing and taking off fighter jets, cargo planes and helicopters. These facilities play a vital role as they provide support to the air force also. These air strips are part of a highway which is open for regular vehicles and transportation.
Why India built ELF in Assam
The Moran ELF is the first Emergency Landing Facility in Assam as well as in Northeast India. It is part of national highway NH 37 in Moran bypass in Dibrugarh Assam. This facility has a very significant importance because Assam is connected with Sikkim via Siliguri Corridor and all the other states of the seven sisters are well connected with Assam. It becomes very important to counter China's expanding policy. China claims Arunachal Pradesh which is an integral part of India. This is India's big move to strengthen the military connectivity with the North East. It will be helpful in strategic reserve, disaster management, emergency military logistics and regional connectivity. This facility is capable of operating fighter jets up to 40 tons and cargo planes up to 74 tons. The Moran ELF is a 4.2 km stretch in Assam on a National Highway and it was conceptualised in 2021. It is a dual use infrastructure as a standard runway for emergency landing and deployment for military and Highway for civilian usage. It is capable of touch-and-go, landing and taking off for both fighter jets and heavy transport aircraft. Its location is very crucial as it is nearly 300 km of the Sino-Indian Line of Actual Control. It can also handle Sukhoi 30, Rafale, Tejas, C-130J Hercules etc. This is border infrastructure and regional power projection as it is close to the Sikkim, Bangladesh, China, and Myanmar borders.
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For a detailed visual explanation of India’s Emergency Landing Facility in Assam, including its defence, geopolitical and strategic implications near the China border, watch our full analysis below.
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India's emergency landing facility program
The Indian government declared, in answer to Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question Number 3142, that 28 emergency facilities were identified by the Indian Air Force across various states in Assam West Bengal Andhra Pradesh Gujarat Rajasthan Bihar Haryana Jammu and Kashmir Tamilnadu Punjab Uttar Pradesh.
Here is the list of identified states for ELF -
| S.No | State | Nos. of Emergency Landing Facility |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Assam | 5 |
| 2 | West Bengal | 4 |
| 3 | Andhra Pradesh | 3 |
| 4 | Gujarat | 3 |
| 5 | Rajasthan | 3 |
| 6 | Bihar | 2 |
| 7 | Haryana | 2 |
| 8 | J&K | 2 |
| 9 | Tamil Nadu | 2 |
| 10 | Punjab | 1 |
| 11 | Uttar Pradesh | 1 |
| Total | 28 |
The first trial was held on May 21, 2015, on the Yamuna Expressway in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, and the fighter jet Mirage 2000 participated in this.
| S.No | Date | Location | Highway / Expressway |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 21 2015 | Mathura UP | Yamuna Expressway |
| 2 | Oct 24 2017 | Unnao UP | Lucknow-Agra Expressway |
| 3 | Sept 9 2021 | Barmer Rajasthan | NH-925A (Satta-Gandhav) |
| 4 | Nov 16 2021 | Sultanpur UP | Purvanchal Expressway |
| 5 | March 18 2024 | Bapatla AP | NH-16 (Addanki-Bapatla) |
| 6 | Feb 14 2026 | Dibrugarh Assam | NH-37 (Moran Bypass) |
Major Key Players in the Program
The emergency landing program is a multi-agency program involving defense with civilian infrastructure. The Indian Air Force identifies the strategic locations and necessary guidelines and technical specifications. The Ministry of Defence provides the framework aligning the Integrated Defense Staff (IDS). The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) is the funding and administrative body, also integrating emergency landing facilities into Bharatmala Pariyojana and PM Gati Shakti. Plans are executed and implemented with the help of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).
Strategic and Geopolitical Importance
China India Border Dispute
China follows expansionist policy. India and China share a border approx 3488 km, which becomes very crucial. China captured India’s territory in Ladakh known as China occupied Kashmir and another part of India Shaksgam Valley which is Pakistan occupied Kashmir which is transferred to China by Pakistan. In 2020 it became a bloodshed conflict in the Galwan Valley clash.
Arunachal Pradesh dispute
China has a history of claims on Arunachal Pradesh and showing it as its state of "Zangnan" or "South Tibet". China also issued stapler visas to citizens of Arunachal Pradesh visitors to China mentioning that no need to take a visa to the city to visit China and it also extended its propaganda by releasing disputed maps showing Arunachal Pradesh in its territory. But it is very clear that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India.
Doklam crisis
Doklam is a tri-junction between India, Sikkim and China borders. In 2017, China tried to extend its road to Doklam, Sikkim. India intervened in this matter and halted China's project expanding to Sikkim. As Doklam is part of Sikkim but India can not afford the presence and access of China Army near Chicken Neck Corridor.
FAQ
What is an emergency landing facility in India?
Emergency Landing Facility or ELF are the road stretches which can be used for aircraft mobility. It works as a road in normal usage and as a runway for emergencies.
Why is India building highway runways?
India is making a network for air support which can be used as emergency runway in war time and also in disaster management and humanitarian aids.
Where is the Moran emergency landing facility located?
Moran Emergency Landing Facility is located near Moran, Dibrugarh district of Assam. It is part of Moran Highway.
Which aircraft can land on highway runways?
Highway runways are built to operationalize fighter jets to heavy cargo aircrafts. These air strips can handle Rafale, Tejas, Sukhoi 30, C-130J Hercules, helicopters and other aircrafts.
How many ELFs in India?
Indian is currently holding 6 ELF but it is extending up to 28 Emergency Landing Facilities.
Why is it important for the China border?
Moran ELF is approx 300 Km from China Border (LAC). It can be used during emergencies in war times when the other nearby airbases are congested or not usable.
This is India's big move to strengthen border security and infrastructure because China always insists on expansion; that's why it becomes very crucial to counter China's expansionist policy. As this program will strengthen the military, these programs also strengthen civilian support in disaster management and regional connectivity also.
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