This Newly Constructed National Highway In Rajasthan Is Good Enough For Landing Indian Air Force Aircraft

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and National Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurated an Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) for the Indian Air Force (IAF) on National Highway 925-A near the city of Barmer in Rajasthan, today. This newly constructed ELF is 40km from India’s border with Pakistan, and will be integral in India’s readiness against any foreign threats in the region.

The ELF can accommodate all types of IAF aircraft, which was also evident by the fact that both ministers arrived aboard a C-130J military aircraft which landed on the NH925-A. Other military aircraft like the Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jet, An-32 military transport aircraft and a Mi-17v5 helicopter also landed on the spot. The total length of the road that is designated as the ELF is 3km.

While this is the first time an IAF aircraft has landed on a National Highway, it’s not the first time such an event has occurred on a public road in India. The Yamuna Expressway which connects Noida and Agra, and the Agra-Lucknow Expressway have both seen IAF aircraft land on it in the past, and in fact, the latter even has a designated ELF built on it. However, both these roads aren’t classified as National Highways. 

The IAF and NHAI plan to build more such ELFs in different parts of the country, and according to reports, 27 other such sites are being studied jointly by both the groups.