Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated a series of major infrastructure projects in Assam, including the Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu over the Brahmaputra River in Guwahati and the Northeast’s first Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) on a national highway in Dibrugarh district.
The projects are part of a broader development push in the region, with the Prime Minister set to inaugurate and flag off initiatives worth over ₹5,450 crore aimed at boosting connectivity, digital infrastructure, higher education and urban mobility.
Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu to Transform Guwahati Connectivity
At around 1 pm, the Prime Minister inspected and inaugurated the Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu, a 2.86-km-long, six-lane extradosed Prestressed Concrete (PSC) bridge built at a cost of approximately ₹3,030 crore.
In a post on X, PM Modi said, “Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu across the Brahmaputra is a vital infrastructure project for Guwahati and areas around it. Connectivity, comfort and commerce will be significantly enhanced. It will enable devotees to go to the Kamakhya Temple with greater ease.”
The bridge connects Guwahati with North Guwahati and is the first extradosed bridge in Northeast India. With its opening, travel time between the two sides of the city is expected to reduce to just seven minutes.
Designed keeping in mind the region’s high seismic activity, the structure incorporates base isolation technology using friction pendulum bearings. High-performance stay cables have been used to ensure long-term durability and structural performance.
A Bridge Health Monitoring System (BHMS) has also been installed to enable real-time condition monitoring, early damage detection and enhanced safety throughout the bridge’s service life.
The inauguration ceremony in Guwahati was attended by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.
Northeast’s First Emergency Landing Facility Inaugurated
Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister inaugurated the Northeast’s first Emergency Landing Facility on the Moran Bypass in Dibrugarh district. Constructed in coordination with the Indian Air Force (IAF), the ELF is a dual-use infrastructure designed to support both military and civilian aircraft during emergencies.
Describing the facility as a matter of “immense pride,” the Prime Minister said in a post on X that it holds great strategic and disaster-response significance for the region.
PM Modi said, “It is a matter of immense pride that the Northeast gets an Emergency Landing Facility. From a strategic point of view and during times of natural disasters, this facility is of great importance.”
Soon after the inauguration, the IAF conducted an air display at the site, featuring fighter jets including the Sukhoi Su-30MKI and Dassault Rafale, along with other aircraft and helicopters. The jets successfully took off from and landed on the specially reinforced highway stretch in the presence of the Prime Minister and other dignitaries. Officials said nearly one lakh people gathered to witness the event.
Strategic and Disaster-Ready Asset
The 4.2-km-long reinforced concrete stretch has been engineered to function as an emergency runway capable of handling fighter aircraft up to 40 tonnes and transport aircraft with a maximum take-off weight of up to 74 tonnes.
A notable feature of the facility is the absence of a central road divider to allow smooth aircraft movement during landing and take-off. Fencing has been installed on both sides, and temporary roadside structures were removed to ensure operational readiness.
Located in Upper Assam, the ELF is being viewed as a significant strategic addition to India’s military infrastructure in the Northeast, particularly given its proximity to the India-China border. It is designed to serve as an alternative landing option in case Dibrugarh Airport or the Chabua Air Force Station becomes unavailable due to operational constraints or emergencies.
Unlike conventional fixed airbases, highway-based landing facilities offer redundancy, mobility and an element of operational surprise, strengthening the IAF’s ability to respond swiftly to contingencies near sensitive border areas.
