Sukhoi, Tejas likely to take part in event; Traffic dept issues advisory for alternate route plan
Anantnag: The Indian Air Force (IAF) is set to conduct a trial run of the 3.5km long emergency landing facility on the Srinagar-Jammu highway at Bijbehara while as the authorities have made elaborate arrangement by deploying armed forces and setting up radars and other technical equipment including CCTV’s to ensure smooth experiment, the officials said on Monday.
Officials said that a large number of armed forces personnel have been deployed near the emergency landing facility from 246.200km to 249.700km on Srinagar-Jammu highway as the IAF is likely to conduct a trial run on the strip.
“Strong security established has been deployed in the area besides setting up radars and other technical equipment including CCTV’s,” they said. They said the clearance work on the highway (strip) has started today.
Health, fire service and other departments are presently on the spot. “The trail run is scheduled during night hours today. Vehicles coming on the national highway will be diverted at that time,” the officials said, adding that Sukhoi fighter aircraft and Tejas light combat fighters are likely to participate in the trial.
The officials said the facility would help in case of war, floods, during NDRF’s rescue operations, air dropping of relief material, transportation of the stranded people and for other emergency needs.
The construction work on the facility was started in 2020 at the cost of Rs 119 crore. Meanwhile, the traffic department has issued an advisory stating that no heavy motor vehicles (HMVs) will be allowed on the highway from 4am on Monday to 7am on Tuesday in view of “urgent repairs and upgradation of the airstrip stretch” near Bijbehara in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
“Light motor vehicles (LMV) shall be diverted to the old highway alignment between Alistop and Doonipora, including Wanpoh, Khanabal, Batengoo, Padshahi Bagh and Bijbihara. Truck drivers are advised to avoid their journey on the highway from 4am on April 1 (Monday) to 7am on April 2 (Tuesday),” the department said in a statement. (KNO)
