Emergency aircraft landing facility opened on Satta-Gandhav stretch of NH-925A in Rajasthan’s Barmer
13 Sep 2021
National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has developed a 3 km section of Satta-Gandhav stretch of NH-925A - from 41/430 km to 44/430 km - as an Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) for Indian Air Force, which is part of newly developed two-lane paved shoulder of Gagariya-Bakhasar and Satta-Gandhav section having total length of 196.97 km, built at a cost of Rs765.52 crore, under Bharatmala Pariyojana.
Defence minister Rajnath Singh and minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday inaugurated the Emergency Landing Field (ELF) and also witnessed aircraft operations on Emergency Landing Field (ELF) on NH-925 0n 09/09/2021 at Gandhav Bhakasar Section (NH-925) South of Barmer (Rajasthan).
This is the first time that National Highway was used for emergency landing of aircrafts of IAF.
This project will improve connectivity between villages of Barmer and Jalore districts located on international border. The stretch, being located in the western border area, will facilitate the vigilance of the Indian Army as well as strengthen the basic infrastructure of the country.
Apart from this Emergency Landing Strip, 3 helipads (size 100 x 30 metres each) have been constructed in Kundanpura, Singhania and Bakhasar villages in this project, according to the requirements of the Air Force/Indian Army, which will be the basis for strengthening the Indian Army and security network on the western international border of the country.
The ELF was constructed in a time span of 19 months. The work for this ELF commenced in July 2019 and was completed in January 2021. The work was carried out by GHV India Pvt Ltd under the supervision of IAF and NHAI. During normal time, the ELF will be used for smooth flow of road traffic. But during the operations of ELF for Indian Air Force, the service road will be used for smooth flow of road traffic. It has been constructed in 3.5 km length.This landing strip will be able to facilitate landing of all types of aircrafts of Indian Air Force.
Constructed at a distance of 40 km from the Indo-Pak international border, the ELF features an Air Traffic Control tower of plinth size 25m x 65m constructed with double storey cabin fully furnished with attached wash room facility.
For the safety of local villagers during the operation, 1.5 metre fencing is provided as per suggestion/requirement of IAF.
Development of roadways as key infrastructure has led to construction of high quality highways and expressways that could be utilised as runways along with some modifications and construction of limited additional infrastructure for operation of various types of aircraft during emergency.