The newly inaugurated Emergency Landing Field (ELF) on the National Highway-925 in Rajasthan has been built keeping in view the strategic importance as it's nearly situated at a distance of 40 kms from the Pakistan border and could be used for various purposes, said Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari in an exclusive conversation with India TV Editor-In-Chief and Chairman, Rajat Sharma in Aaj Ki Baat.

The emergency landing strip at Gandhav Bhakasar Section of NH-925, south of Barmer in Rajasthan, is the first time that the National Highway will be used for emergency landing of IAF aircraft. It was inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Thursday.

The NHAI had developed an Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) for the Indian Air Force, which is a part of the newly developed two-lane paved shoulder of Gagariya-Bakhasar and Satta-Gandhav Section having a total length of 196.97 km costing Rs 765.52 crore under the Bharatmala Pariyojana.

This project will improve the connectivity between villages of Barmer and Jalore districts located on the International Border.

Speaking in Aaj Ki Baat about the importance of the airstrip, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said that the stretch being located in the western border area will facilitate the vigilance of the Indian Army as well as strengthen the basic infrastructure of the country as the nearest airport from this region is at a distance of 300-330 kms.

Nitin Gadkari said the Emergency Landing Field or the airstrip could be used for air ambulances as during the Covid times, challenges such as lungs, heart transplants were faced, therefore, such airstrips could be used for emergency purposes.

For the defence forces, the air-strip may be used for refueling the jets so that they can be launched for operations from the airbase, situated at a distance of approximately 300 kms