Moran highway to turn airstrip on February 14 as PM Modi visits Assam

There was disbelief first, then rising excitement across Moran as an ordinary stretch of national highway was transformed into a functional airstrip ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Assam on February 14. 

What is usually a corridor of trucks and daily commuters is now poised to witness the thunder of fighter jets and military transport aircraft descending from the skies.

What is usually a busy road carrying trucks, buses and two-wheelers was cleared, secured and meticulously prepared to receive fighter jets and military helicopters. As the aircraft descended and touched down on the asphalt, the ground trembled and the air filled with the thunderous sound of engines — a sight many locals described as “unforgettable.” 
Children sat on their parents’ shoulders, elders watched in stunned silence, and mobile phones shot up everywhere to capture the rare spectacle.

The exercise was not merely symbolic. Fighter jets and helicopters successfully executed take-offs and landings on the highway strip, demonstrating the Indian Air Force’s ability to convert civilian infrastructure into emergency airbases at short notice. For many in Upper Assam, it was the first time witnessing such a high-intensity defence drill so close to home.

Speaking to reporters at the site, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the Prime Minister will travel from New Delhi to the Chabua Air Force base and then board a C-130 transport aircraft to land directly on the newly prepared highway airstrip at Moran before proceeding to Guwahati. The moment, he said, will mark a historic milestone for Assam and the Northeast.

Around 16 Indian Air Force aircraft are expected to participate in a 30-minute aerial exercise. “Rafale, Sukhoi and other IAF aircraft will take part in the airshow, and many of the fighter jets will also land at the strip. This will be the first such elaborate exercise on an ELF,” Sarma said, referring to the Emergency Landing Facility created on the highway. The participation of advanced combat platforms like the Dassault Rafale and the Sukhoi Su-30MKI has heightened anticipation among defence enthusiasts and residents alike.

Security across the Moran sector has been tightened, with vehicular movement regulated and access points sealed to facilitate the operation. Officials described the drill as a test of rapid deployment capability, logistical readiness and seamless coordination between defence forces and civil administration. The successful execution of take-offs and landings on a public highway underlines India’s push toward dual-use infrastructure that can serve both civilian and strategic purposes.

Calling the spectacle “very rare,” Sarma said students from schools, colleges and universities in Dibrugarh and Charaideo districts have been invited to witness the event. He expressed hope that the demonstration would ignite aspirations among the younger generation to consider careers in the Indian Air Force.

The Chief Minister clarified that only the aircraft landing demonstration will be held at Moran and that there will be no public meeting or speech at the venue. Yet, for residents, the emotional weight of the moment goes beyond protocol. For a brief window, their familiar highway will echo with the roar of supersonic engines — a striking convergence of development, defence preparedness and national pride in the heart of Upper Assam.