WATCH: Trial Conducted To Land Flights On National Highway 16 In Andhra Pradesh

An airstrip for the emergency landing of aircraft has come up on NH 16 at a cost of 23.77 crore

Trial Conducted To Land Flights On National Highway 16.

Source : ANI

In a first of its kind, a trial has been conducted on Thursday to land aircraft and fighter jets on National Highway 16 in Andhra Pradesh's Bapatla district. An airstrip for the landing of aircraft during emergency situations has been set up on NH16 at a cost of 23.77 crore.

The 4.1-km long and 33-metre-wide airstrip, which was constructed by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), has been inaugurated Thursday with an aircraft landing trial.

#WATCH | Andhra Pradesh: A trial was conducted to land flights on National Highway 16 in Prakasam district. pic.twitter.com/FeiZYKCOdQ

— ANI (@ANI) December 29, 2022

It was expected that at least three flights and two fighter jets will land on the highway for the trail, said The Hindu report. According to NHAI officials, in case of an emergency situation, the highway traffic will be blocked and it will be put to use for the landing of aircraft.

Besides Andhra Pradesh, the airstrips are being set up in West Bengal, Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan, Odisha and Tamil Nadu. The two airstrips in Andhra Pradesh are constructed between Chilakaluripet and Nellore and the other 3.6-km-long airstrip is under construction between Singarayakonda and Kalikivaya with an estimated cost of Rs 52 crore.

The airstrips have been set up with the technical supervision of Indian Air Force authorities. There will be air traffic control towers near the NH16 for both the airstrips which have been constructed for the emergency landing. Besides emergency situations, bringing relief material to the victims of natural calamities is the main focus of the one of its kind development.