Fighter jets to perform air show as Prime Minister inaugurates key infrastructure projects ahead of elections
In a significant pre-election visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to make history on Saturday by landing directly on a National Highway in Assam’s Dibrugarh district. This marks the Prime Minister’s third visit to the state ahead of the upcoming polls, with another scheduled for early March.
The itinerary begins with a dramatic arrival at the newly constructed Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) on the National Highway in Moran. Breaking from protocol, the Prime Minister will forgo a traditional airport landing, instead touching down on the highway via a special Air Force aircraft or helicopter at 10:00 AM. He is scheduled to depart Delhi at 7:15 AM and arrive at Chabua Air Force Base at 9:50 AM before proceeding to the landing site.
Show of Aerial Strength
The inauguration of the ELF will be accompanied by a spectacular display of aerial power. Over a span of 30 minutes, 16 fighter jets, including Sukhois and Rafales, will conduct flypasts, with select aircraft executing touch-and-go landings on the highway. This development is particularly poignant given the criticism the government has faced in recent years regarding the condition of the national highway in Moran; thousands are expected to witness the transformation of the roadway into a strategic asset.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma highlighted the dual utility of the facility, noting that beyond wartime applications, the ELF will be crucial for disaster management, allowing helicopters to land during floods. He further announced plans to develop similar facilities on four or five additional highways across the state.
Following the air show, the Prime Minister will board a C-130 Hercules aircraft from the highway itself, departing for Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati, where he is expected to arrive at 12:30 PM.
Infrastructure Push in Guwahati
Security has been tightened across Guwahati, where the Prime Minister will head directly to inaugurate the Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu at 1:15 PM. He is expected to inspect the bridge on foot. The route from the airport to the bridge will be lined with stages featuring artists performing ethnic dances to welcome the convoy.
Later, at a programme at Lachit Ghat, PM Modi will virtually inaugurate the temporary campus of the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Bongaigaon and an AI-supported hyperscale data centre built by the National Informatics Centre in Amingaon. He will also flag off a fleet of 100 electric buses for Guwahati.
Political Mobilization
The visit will conclude with a massive political rally at Khanapara field at 2:30 PM. Dubbed the ‘Booth Vijay Sammelan,’ the event will see the participation of approximately one lakh booth committee members. The Prime Minister is expected to deliver a “victory mantra” to the grassroots workers to galvanize the party machinery before departing for Delhi in the evening.