Assam government has written to Centre for more emergency landing facilities: Himanta

Assam seeks more emergency landing facilities and plans four new airports to enhance strategic infrastructure, announces Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday (February 15, 2026) said he has written to the Centre seeking more emergency landing facilities in the state, a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Northeast's first ELF in Moran.

He also announced that the Assam government will ink a pact with the Civil Aviation Ministry next month to carry out a feasibility study to construct four more airports at Majuli, Diphu, Umrangso and Manas.

Addressing a press conference in Guwahati, Mr. Sarma said more strategic assets are being planned, including a twin tube road-cum-rail tunnel under the Brahmaputra river and an underground highway beneath the Chicken's Neck corridor.

"The Moran ELF has extreme strategic importance for Assam and the Northeast. The PM inaugurating it in the presence of the Air Chief Marshal yesterday has sent a very strong message that India is ready for everything on this front," he said.

A lot of highway and other strategic projects are being constructed in Arunachal Pradesh, considering its border with China, but "Assam is being developed as a backup state in case of a war", Mr. Sarma said.

"We have written to the Centre seeking more ELFs in the state. We need more such facilities for use during disasters such as floods. During a deluge, transport carriers such as C130 would be able to land at ELFs with relief materials," he added.