Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Minister for Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari on Thursday inaugurated an Emergency Landing Field (ELF) on National Highway-925 at Gandhav Bhakasar Section at Barmer, in Rajasthan.
According to an official statement, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has developed a 3-km stretch as an Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) for the Indian Air Force which is just 40 km off the Pakistan border.
Visuals of the inauguration commencing with Union Ministers Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari and Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria landing at the strip in a C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft have surfaced.
#WATCH | C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari & Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria onboard lands at Emergency Field Landing at the National Highway in Jalore, Rajasthan pic.twitter.com/BmOKmqyC5u
— ANI (@ANI) September 9, 2021
BJP leader Laxmikant Bhardwaj took to Twitter to share a heartwarming video of young children witnessing the historic landing and waving at the aircraft as it lands.
बदलते भारत की अलग तस्वीर । राजस्थान के रेतीले इलाक़ों में जहाँ कभी डामर की सड़क नहीं होती थी , वहाँ आज सड़क पर जहाज़ उतर रहे हैं । अभिनंदन आ.@narendramodi जी 🙏 pic.twitter.com/np9ztRTKE2
— Laxmikant bhardwaj (@lkantbhardwaj) September 9, 2021
Visual of a Sukhoi Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft landing at the National Highway as part of the EFL demonstration has also surfaced.
#WATCH | For the first time, a Sukhoi Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft lands at the national highway in Jalore, Rajasthan pic.twitter.com/BVVOtCpT0H
— ANI (@ANI) September 9, 2021
The dignitaries are currently attending an event at Jalore to celebrate the historic feat.
#WATCH | C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari & Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria onboard lands at Emergency Field Landing at the National Highway in Jalore, Rajasthan pic.twitter.com/BmOKmqyC5u
— ANI (@ANI) September 9, 2021
As per the Indian Air Force, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat was also present to witness the landing demonstration at the National Highway EFL.
Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat would also be witnessing the landing demonstration at Emergency Field Landing at the National Highway in Rajasthan’s Jalore: Indian Air Force
— ANI (@ANI) September 9, 2021
The demonstration will also see Jaguars and Su-30 MKIs landing and taking off from the strip.
During the landing demonstration at the Emergency Field Landing at the National Highway in Rajasthan’s Jalore, fighter aircraft including Jaguars and Su-30 MKIs would be landing and taking off: Indian Air Force pic.twitter.com/ftDn0PJhWb
— ANI (@ANI) September 9, 2021
Several fighter jets had landed on the strip on Wednesday in plausibly a trial just ahead of the inauguration.
About the Emergency Field Landing (EFL)
The 3-km emergency landing strip has been constructed as part of the two-lane paved shoulder of Gagariya-Bakhasar and Satta-Gandhav under the ambitious Bharatmala Pariyojana.
As per an official statement, the project will not just increase the connectivity between the villages of Barmer and Jalore district but also enhance the vigilance of the Indian Army on the western border.
In a bid to strengthen the security network, 3 helipads (size 100 x 30 metres each) have been constructed in Kundanpura, Singhania and Bakhasar villages under this project as per the requirements of the defence forces.
The construction of ELF had commenced in July 2019 and was completed successfully in January 2021.
