BANGARMAU (UP): In a first for any road launch, six fighter jets of the IAF today made a touchdown barely skimming the road before taking off to mark the opening of the Agra-Lucknow Expressway which can be also used for war-like emergency situations.
The 302-km-long six-lane expressway, which is India’s longest, is expected to considerably reduce the travel time between Lucknow and Delhi which usually takes 12 to 14 hours.
The dream project of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav was inaugurated here by his father and SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav on the eve of latter’s birthday.
Three Mirage 2000 and three Sukhoi-30 jets of the Indian Air Force (IAF) carried out the ‘touch and go’ on a portion of the newly constructed Expressway which has an RCC construction and reinforced and appropriately marked to facilitate aircraft landings. The portion used for the operations is located at Ganj Moradabad in Unnao District in UP.
The aim of the exercise is to check feasibility of Expressways being used as alternate airstrips in case of dire emergencies or non-availability of runways for any reason, a Defence official said.
Mulayam congratulated officials for completing the Expressway in a record two years time along with the chief minister who took personal interest in it. (AGENCIES)
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