Assam to Develop Emergency Landing Facility on National Highway 27

Guwahati: A five-kilometer section of National Highway 27 in Assam’s Nalbari district will be converted into an Emergency Landing Facility. District Commissioner Nibedan Das Patowary announced the project during a recent development meeting, noting that the site between Tihu and Madhapur will serve as a makeshift runway for aircraft during disasters, wartime, or times when standard airbases are unavailable.

This initiative follows the February 2026 launch of the Northeast's first such facility in Dibrugarh. Built at a cost of nearly 100 crore rupees, that project established a model for using highway stretches to support strategic military and civilian operations. Authorities are now coordinating with the National Highways Authority of India to ensure the Nalbari stretch remains unobstructed. Officials have been ordered to block the construction of any permanent or temporary structures along the designated route.

Beyond the landing facility, the district meeting addressed several broader infrastructure and welfare goals. The District Commissioner ordered stricter oversight of roadside dhabas to prevent illegal alcohol sales. The committee also assessed progress on ongoing bridge construction, road development under the Assam Mala Scheme, and local initiatives including paddy procurement, agricultural loans, and school meal programs.