The Satta-Gandhav section on National Highway-925 is the first National Highway in India to be used for emergency landing of transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force.
The two ministers also witnessed the operation of several aircraft at the Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) of NH-295 on Thursday.
The Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jet also made a mock emergency landing on the ELF in front of the two ministers.
An AN-32 military transport aircraft and IAF’s Mi-17V5 helicopter also landed at ELF, showing their full operational readiness to act as an auxiliary military airbase.
Here’s what you want to know about the ELF, a strategic boost for the western sector and an effective backup fugitive for a war-like situation.
*Indian Air Force officials called the facility a “force multiplier”, which would prove to be a strategic boost for the western sector and an effective backup runaway for a war-like situation. Talking about the importance of this landing strip, a serving Wing Commander said, “In the 1971 war, the Pathankot Air Base landing strip was heavily bombed and there was no back up runway, but in such a scenario, Convenience becomes important. This new way of getting on the highways is being done globally and it works in an economically efficient manner as it serves a dual purpose at the same cost.”
* Located near the India-Pakistan border, this facility has been developed under Bharatmala Project in Barmer district on National Highway-925, about 40 km from Pakistan.
* It is 3 km long and 33 m wide. Parking facilities have been created on both sides to ensure that aircraft can be stationed there. The construction work started in July 2019 and was completed in January 2021.
* NHAI Developed a 3 km section of the Satta-Gandhav section of NH-925 which is part of the newly developed two-lane paved shoulder Gagaria-Bakhsari and the satta-gandhav section.
* While the IAF has landed aircraft on national highways before, including the Yamuna Expressway, this is the first time that NHAI has developed a strip keeping in mind the need for a landing facility on which transporter aircraft will also land for the first time. In addition to fighter jets an NH.
* The ELF was built over a period of 19 months. It is 196.97 km long and was built under the Bharatmala project at a cost of Rs 765.52 crore.
* Apart from ELF, three helipads of size 100X30 meters have been set up in Kundanpura, Singhania and Bakhasar villages, which will be the base for strengthening the defense forces and security network along the western international border of the country.
* On normal days the ground will be used for uninterrupted traffic, but when the Air Force requires it for its activities, the service road will only be used by it.
* Currently, countries such as Germany, Sweden, South Korea, Taiwan, Finland, Switzerland, Poland, Singapore, even Pakistan have dedicated planes on their highways and expressways for landing and taking off in emergencies or during war. There are sections.
* Over the years, India has been trying to adapt several motorable roads and highways for this purpose. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is working with the Ministry of Defense on a proposal to build runways on stretches of the highway and 22 such locations have been identified across the country.
(with inputs from agencies)
Watch Barmer: Rajnath Singh inaugurated National Highway 925-A. Inaugurated the Emergency Landing Facility for the Indian Air Force at
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