Four-Lane Connectivity Boost for Assam: Numaligarh-Dibrugarh Ready by Dec 2025, IAF Plane to Inaugurate.

The much-anticipated four-laning of the Numaligarh-Dibrugarh stretch of National Highway-37 is on track for completion by December 31, 2025, announced Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Adding a unique dimension to the project's inauguration, Sarma revealed that an Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft will land on the newly constructed highway in January 2026, marking a historic first for infrastructure development in Assam.

Speaking at a public event in Dibrugarh on Sunday, where he inaugurated two new flyovers, Sarma stated that the highway's inauguration would be an unprecedented event. "By December 31, the four-lane highway will be completed. I have talked to Indian Air Force officials. In January 2026, we will inaugurate the highway by landing an aircraft at the Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) being constructed at Moran. This is my promise to the people," Sarma declared, to enthusiastic applause.

The Emergency Landing Facility (ELF), spanning a 3.5-kilometer stretch of the highway on the Moran town bypass, located 40 kilometers from Dibrugarh, will serve a dual purpose. It will function as an emergency landing strip for military aircraft and also aid in disaster response operations. The facility is designed to accommodate fighter jets such as Sukhois and Tejas, as well as transport aircraft like Hercules and Antonov AN-32.

During emergencies, this section of the highway can be swiftly closed to regular traffic, transforming it into a functional airstrip. The ELF is expected to significantly bolster national security in the region and enhance the speed and efficiency of deploying resources during natural calamities, such as the frequent floods that affect Assam.

The Numaligarh-Dibrugarh four-lane project is a vital component of the larger Guwahati-Dibrugarh high-speed corridor, an initiative aimed at revolutionizing connectivity across upper Assam. While the project has faced previous delays, it now appears to be firmly on schedule for completion by the end of the current year.

According to government officials, the 39.7-kilometer segment between Numaligarh and Jorhat was completed on March 15th of this year. Progress on the remaining sections varies, with the 37.8-kilometer Jorhat to Jhanji section at 66.93 percent completion, the 44-kilometer Jhanji-Demow section at 23.09 percent, the 26.9-kilometer Demow-Moran Bypass End section at 78.46 percent, and the 19.1-kilometer Moran Bypass End-Dibrugarh Bogibeel Junction section at 62.27 percent completion.

Once fully operational, the four-lane highway is poised to significantly improve the movement of goods and passengers, benefiting key sectors such as industries, agriculture, and tourism. It is also expected to streamline logistics for the prominent tea and oil industries that form the backbone of upper Assam's economy.