West Bengal: Air Force emergency landing facility work starts on national highway

Emergency landing on national highways for the need of Air Force is in the offing. The work of making such a facility landing started in Medinipur. Work has been going on for two days in Beldar Bakhrabad area.  

Emergency landing facilities have been set up on the national highway in the Poktapol area of West Medinipur due to the requirement of the Air Force. Work has been going on for the last two days in Beldar Bakhrabad area.

There are 6 airbases in Kalaikunda area of Kharagpur. Drills and necessary landing gear are made by the Army at the region.

The government has taken the initiative to set up an air force emergency landing facility in Bakhrabad area of Khargpur sub-division. The initiative was taken to convert a 5km portion of Kharagpur - Odisha NH 60, starting from Shyampura to Poktapol, into a jet runway. As per process, the work of surveying and removal of trees and shops along the national highway began two days ago. An emergency landing facility marking board has also been installed on the national highway.

The working officials said, “This 5 km national road will be 60 meters wide. The middle part of the road will also be filled.” 

According to sources, emergency landing runways are being constructed on national highways at 13 locations in India. There is only one emergency landing runway in West Bengal at present.

The Belda, Narayangarh adjacent areas have been hit by several Air Force MIG aircraft in the past. Each time, the troops got out of the plane safely, but the aircraft crashed into the adjacent farmland. In most cases, the aircraft flies over these places during drills. Due to some important reasons, the construction of this runway has started on the national highway of Medinipur. The official said that the runway will be completed soon.