Guwahati, Assam – In a significant push for infrastructure and strategic development in the region, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Assam on Saturday, spearheading a packed agenda that began with a historic landing at the Northeast’s first-ever Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) and concluded with the inauguration of multi-crore infrastructure projects.
The Prime Minister’s visit underscores the central government’s focus on bolstering connectivity, digital infrastructure, and defence preparedness in the northeastern states.
Historic Landing at ELF in Dibrugarh
The day commenced with Prime Minister Modi touching down at the newly developed Emergency Landing Facility on the Moran Bypass in Dibrugarh at approximately 10:30 AM. Prior to landing at the ELF, he arrived at the Chabua Air Force station.
The ELF, developed in coordination with the Indian Air Force (IAF), is a pioneering project in the Northeast. Designed as a dual-use infrastructure asset, the airstrip is capable of handling both military and civil aircraft during emergencies. It is engineered to accommodate fighter aircraft weighing up to 40 tonnes and transport aircraft up to 74 tonnes.
Upon arrival, the Prime Minister witnessed a spectacular aerial display featuring fighter jets, transport aircraft, and helicopters of the IAF. The facility is expected to serve as a critical asset for swift disaster response, enabling rapid deployment of rescue and relief teams, while simultaneously meeting strategic defence requirements in the region.
Inauguration of the Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu
Later in the afternoon, the Prime Minister travelled to Guwahati, where he visited and inaugurated the much-anticipated Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu across the Brahmaputra River. At Lachit Ghat, he inaugurated and laid the foundation for multiple projects collectively worth over ₹5,450 crore.
The centrepiece of these projects is the Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu, a six-lane extradosed prestressed concrete bridge constructed at a cost of approximately ₹3,030 crore. As the first extradosed bridge in the Northeast, it connects the bustling city of Guwahati with North Guwahati, dramatically reducing travel time between the two sides to just seven minutes.
Recognizing the region’s high seismic vulnerability, the bridge has been equipped with advanced safety features, including base isolation technology with friction pendulum bearings. It also boasts high-performance stay cables and a state-of-the-art Bridge Health Monitoring System, which allows for real-time condition tracking and early detection of structural issues to ensure long-term safety and durability.
Boosting the Digital Landscape: National Data Centre Inaugurated
In a move set to strengthen the region’s digital backbone, PM Modi also inaugurated the new National Data Centre for the Northeastern region at Amingaon in Kamrup district. This state-of-the-art facility is designed with a total sanctioned load of 8.5 MW and an average rack capacity of 10 kW per rack.
The data centre will host mission-critical applications for various government departments and serve as a disaster recovery hub for other national data centres. This project is a key component of the Digital India initiative, aimed at enhancing the delivery of citizen services and fostering technological growth in the region.
The Prime Minister’s day is also scheduled to include an address to BJP workers (karyakartas) in Guwahati, as the party gears up for its organizational activities in the state.
