Guwahati/ New Delhi, 14 February (H.S.): Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his Assam visit, inaugurated the Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) on the national highway at Moran before arriving in Guwahati on Saturday to dedicate key infrastructure projects at Machkhowa, including the six-lane cable bridge Kumar Bhaskar Varma Setu over the Brahmaputra, Northeast's National Data Centre, IIM Guwahati, and 225 e-buses under PM-E Bus Sewa.

Costing approximately ₹3,030 crore, the 1.24 km extradosed PSC bridge—Northeast India's first—links Guwahati and North Guwahati, slashing travel time from over an hour by road or 30 minutes by ferry to just seven minutes, easing urban mobility amid rising traffic and decongesting southern banks as key offices like Guwahati High Court relocate north.

Post-inauguration, PM Modi inspected the bridge on foot for an extended distance, joined by Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya and Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, with crowds gathering along the riverbanks.

The 8.5 MW National Data Centre will host mission-critical government applications and serve as a disaster recovery hub; IIM Guwahati advances higher management education; 225 e-buses across four cities including Guwahati benefit over 50 lakh citizens with sustainable public transport.

India's first dual-use ELF, designed with Indian Air Force collaboration, accommodates fighter jets up to 40 tonnes and transport aircraft up to 74 tonnes takeoff weight, enabling rapid military-civilian landings for rescues during disasters or strategic needs.Upcoming EngagementModi is scheduled to address BJP booth workers at Khanapara in Guwahati later today.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar