How Highways Are Becoming Emergency Air Strips in India
India is transforming select national highways into Emergency Landing Facilities (ELFs), enabling military aircraft to land and take off during crises while maintaining normal road use in peacetime.
India has quietly been transforming stretches of its national highways into emergency airstrips — dual‑use roadways capable of serving both normal vehicular traffic and aircraft landings during crises. What began as a defence preparedness initiative over the last decade has gained momentum, with the latest milestone marked by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic landing on a converted highway runway in Assam’s Dibrugarh district in February 2026.
The Times of India
The concept, known officially as Emergency Landing Facilities (ELFs), involves reinforcing and preparing straight, long stretches of highway so they can double as temporary runways for military aircraft — including fighter jets, transport planes, and even heavy turboprops — in situations where regular airbases may be unavailable, vulnerable, or unsuitable.
tribuneindia.com
A Strategic Shift in Infrastructure
On National Highway 37 near Moran, Assam, a 4.2‑kilometre stretch was upgraded into one such ELF, with the surface strengthened and expanded so that aircraft can safely land and take off. The project, costing around Rs 100 crore, was completed in 2025 and inaugurated in early Feb. 2026, when PM Modi landed aboard an Indian Air Force C‑130J — the first time such a landing took place in the northeastern region.
This development is part of a broader push by the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to identify and prepare suitable highway segments as alternate runways. Over the past few years, the Defence Ministry has identified at least 28 sites across 11 states and union territories where highways have been designated as ELFs. These include locations in Assam, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Jammu & Kashmir, Bihar, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh.
Comparable initiatives have already been demonstrated: fighter jets and transport aircraft have conducted trial landings and “touch‑and‑go” operations on highways in Uttar Pradesh, Jaipur area, and Andhra Pradesh as part of broader readiness exercises — underscoring both the feasibility and tactical value of such road runways.
The Times of India +1
Why Highway Airstrips Matter
There are several strategic and practical reasons behind this programme:
1. Enhanced Defence Preparedness:
Highways converted into ELFs provide redundancy for air operations if traditional airbases are threatened during a conflict. Since bases can be predictable targets in wartime or hostile scenarios, having alternate landing zones distributed across the country enhances operational flexibility and resilience.
2. Rapid Mobilisation and Supply:
In a crisis, the ability to evacuate personnel, deliver supplies, or redeploy forces quickly becomes crucial. ELFs enable transport aircraft to land closer to operational theatres or disaster zones without relying on busy or compromised airports.
3. Humanitarian and Disaster Response:
India’s varied geography is prone to natural disasters — from floods to cyclones — which can make airfields inaccessible. Highway runways can serve as critical entry points for relief flights when conventional airports cannot be used.
The New Indian Express
4. Symbolic Signal of Deterrence:
Choosing locations such as Northeast India — near the disputed border with China — for these ELFs not only delivers functional value but also conveys a strategic message of preparedness and deterrence.
The Times of India
How It Works on the Ground
To serve as an airstrip, a highway must meet specific engineering criteria: a long, straight stretch free from median dividers; reinforced pavements built to withstand the weight and stress of fast‑moving aircraft; and cleared shoulders free of obstacles like overhead signs or lighting poles.
When needed, local authorities can temporarily halt road traffic, close off the section, and secure the perimeter. Aircraft crews then treat it as a makeshift runway, landing and taking off much like at a conventional airfield. In peacetime, these stretches function as ordinary highways.
Internationally, this dual‑use model is not unique to India; countries such as Finland, Sweden, Germany, Poland, and others have long used highway strips as part of Cold War‑era contingency plans.
Challenges and Future Prospects
While the ELF programme has gained traction, implementing and maintaining these installations poses challenges. Construction delays and logistical hurdles have slowed progress at some sites, such as an emergency strip on NH‑16, which faced setbacks due to infrastructure issues.
Deccan Chronicle
Moreover, coordinating between civil traffic authorities and defence planners to ensure seamless activation when needed requires sophisticated planning and communication. Despite these hurdles, the strategy has become an integral part of India’s broader defence infrastructure roadmap.
The New Indian Express
As the model continues to expand, and with high‑profile occasions like PM Modi’s historic landing in Assam bringing public attention to dual‑use highways, India’s highways‑turned‑airstrips are likely to remain a key component of the country’s readiness for emergencies — whether military, strategic, or humanitarian.
The Times of India
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Fiaz Ahmed
I am Fiaz Ahmed. I am a passionate writer. I love covering trending topics and breaking news. With a sharp eye for what’s happening around the world, and crafts timely and engaging stories that keep readers informed and updated.
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