PM Modi Unveils ELF on Assam Highway Strip

Key Features of the ELF Infrastructure

The ELF (₹100 crore), constructed in consultation with the IAF, is a 4.2-km reinforced section atop the Moran Bypass designed and constructed specifically to ensure the landing and take-off of military and civil aircraft during emergencies.
The Emergency Landing Facility is the first ever of its kind in Northeast India developed in coordination with the Indian Air Force for landing and take-off of military and civil aircraft in times of emergency.

Strategic Role in Emergencies and Defense

The official statement from PMO said, “It will serve as a critical asset for emergency response, enabling quick deployment of rescue and relief operations during natural disasters or strategic requirements in the north east.”
“Envisioned as dual-use infrastructure, the ELF is capable of handling fighter aircraft up to 40 tonnes and transport aircraft up to 74 tonnes maximum take-off weight,” it added.

Aerial Display Showcases Highway's Military Potential

The inauguration was accompanied by a sophisticated aerial display of Rafale and Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jets to show the highway’s potential to transform from a civilian transit route into a high-performance military runway in minutes.
Some 300 km from the China border (LAC) station, the facility is a vital "backup" for close-by airbases such as Chabua and Tezpur. 

Data Centre, IIM Launch, and Green Bus Rollout

After the launch, PM Modi headed to Guwahati to inaugurate and lay foundation stones for a number of initiatives. He will inaugurate a new bridge across the Brahmaputra, built at a cost of around ₹3,030 crore and linking Guwahati with North Guwahati; it is Northeast India's first extradosed bridge.
In the same move, he plans to inaugurate the National Data Centre for the North Eastern Region at Amingaon in Kamrup district and mark the first academic session of IIM Guwahati.
He will also flag off 225 electric buses under the PM-eBus Sewa Scheme, of which 100 will be for Guwahati, 50 each for Nagpur and Bhavnagar, and 25 for Chandigarh.