The four-lane expansion of the Numaligarh-Dibrugarh stretch of NH-37 in Assam is expected to be completed by 31 December, 2025, with an extraordinary inauguration ceremony planned in January 2026.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that the highway will be inaugurated with the landing of an Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft on a newly constructed Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) at Moran, marking the first such event in the state’s history. The ELF, located on a 3.5-km stretch of the Moran bypass - approx. 40 km from Dibrugarh, will serve dual purposes: facilitating emergency military aircraft landings and enhancing regional disaster response capabilities.

This infrastructure milestone is part of the broader Guwahati-Dibrugarh high-speed corridor aimed at dramatically improving road connectivity across upper Assam. Although the highway project has faced several delays in the past, it is now reported to be progressing steadily towards its completion target.

Designed to accommodate a range of IAF aircraft including Sukhoi fighter jets, Tejas, Hercules, and Antonov AN-32 transport planes, the facility is intended to support rapid deployment during crises such as natural disasters and bolster national security. During emergencies, the designated highway segment will be temporarily converted into an airstrip by halting regular vehicular traffic.