Union Ministers Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari will inaugurate an Emergency Landing Field on National Highway-925 at Gandhav Bhakasar Section at Barmer, in Rajasthan on Thursday.
According to an official statement, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has developed a 3km section of Satta-Gandhav stretch of NH-925A, as an Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) for the Indian Air Force.
This facility is part of newly developed two-lane paved shoulder of Gagariya-Bakhasar and Satta-Gandhav section having total length of 196.97km and costing ₹765.52 crore under the Bharatmala Pariyojana.
This project will improve connectivity between villages of Barmer and Jalore districts located on the International Border, the statement said, adding that 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.
The statement further said this is the first time that National Highway will be used for emergency landing by the Indian Air Force.
"Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari will Inaugurate Emergency Landing Field (ELF) and also witness aircraft operations on ELF on NH-925 on09/09/2021at Gandhav Bhakasar Section (NH-925) South of Barmer (Rajasthan)," it said.
Apart from the Emergency Landing Strip, three 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.
According to the statement, during normal time the ELF will be used for smooth flow of road traffic and during the operations of ELF for the Indian Air Force, the service road will be used for smooth flow of road traffic.
The ELF was constructed in 19 months. The work for this ELF was commenced in July 2019 and was completed in January 2021. The work was carried out by GHV India Private Limited under the supervision of the IAF and the NHAI.
The statement noted that 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.
