New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the first Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) in the Northeast at Dibrugarh, Assam, calling it a matter of immense pride and a project of strategic importance, especially during natural disasters and emergencies.
Highlighting the significance of the facility, the PM said the ELF would strengthen regional preparedness and boost strategic infrastructure in the Northeast.
In a post on X, he said: “From a strategic point of view and during times of natural disasters, this facility is of great importance.”
During his visit, the PM also inaugurated the Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu, a six-lane extradosed bridge over the Brahmaputra in Guwahati, according to an official statement.
According to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, it is India’s first six-lane extradosed bridge. Built at a cost of over Rs3,000 crore, the bridge is the largest infrastructure project executed by Assam’s Public Works Department.
The bridge significantly reduces travel time between the twin cities of Guwahati and North Guwahati from 40 minutes to just seven minutes. It is expected to enhance connectivity, comfort, and commerce in the region and facilitate easier access for devotees visiting the Kamakhya Temple. It will also provide seamless connectivity to key institutions, including AIIMS on the North Bank, Biswa Sarma said in a post on X.
Calling it a catalyst for growth in the Gateway to Southeast Asia, the PM noted that improved infrastructure will accelerate economic development across Assam and the wider Northeast.
In addition, work on the Gohpur-Numaligarh rail-cum-road tunnel beneath the Brahmaputra is progressing, a project expected to reduce travel time and serve as a strategic lifeline for defence forces.
Officials highlighted that until 2014, there were only three bridges across the Brahmaputra. Over the past 12 years, four new bridges have been dedicated, with more projects in the pipeline, marking a significant expansion of connectivity infrastructure in Assam.
