By October 2025, the Dibrugarh–Moran section of the National Highway will have the first highway-based emergency landing strip in the Northeast operational. On Sunday, the first day of his two-day visit to Upper Assam, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma gave the report.
According to him, the 4.2-kilometer section is being planned to support both Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter jets, such as Sukhoi and Rafale types, and civilian aircraft.
The National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (NHIDCL) is in charge of creating the landing facility. Sarma stated that the IAF is presently carrying out inspections and is hopeful that trial landings might start by September, with complete operational readiness anticipated by October.
In order to guarantee that the airport can handle cutting-edge fighter aircraft and be used for next air shows, he continued, talks are currently taking place with the Indian Air Force. “This is the Northeast's first landing facility of its kind. Two additional have already been granted by the Indian government: one between Nagaon and Lumding at Sankardevnagar, and another at Boroma–Tihu in lower Assam. Before beginning work on the others, we will inaugurate this one first," he stated.
The Chief Minister also discussed plans to build helipads along the route at regular intervals. According to him, the facility will improve Assam's capacity to respond to disasters, especially during floods when traditional runways might not be accessible. The Chief Minister promised that "coordination is underway with the Ministry of Defence, NHIDCL, and the Center to bring these plans to fruition." When finished, the airfield is anticipated to increase civil aviation capacity in times of need and provide strategic flexibility to the Armed Forces on the Northeast frontier.