On May 2, 2025, the Indian Air Force (IAF) carried out a landmark day-and-night landing drill on a 3.5-kilometer section of the under-construction Ganga Expressway in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh. The exercise was the first instance in India where the airstrip on an expressway witnessed both day and night-time operations of fighter aircraft, increasing the country’s rapid deployment capabilities.
The exercise involved a multi-platform fleet of IAF jets, including Rafale, Sukhoi Su-30MKI, Mirage-2000, MiG-29, Jaguar, C-130J Super Hercules, AN-32, and MI-17 V5 helicopters. The C-130J Super Hercules started the exercise with a landing, followed by Jaguars and MiG-29s, while Rafale jets displayed aerial stunts above. A subsequent three-hour night landing session, from 7 PM to 10 PM, tested the airstrip’s capability for nocturnal operations, a first for any expressway in the country.
The Ganga Expressway, spanning 594 kilometers from Meerut to Prayagraj, is being developed at an estimated cost of ₹36,000 crore. At its completion, it will be the fourth expressway in Uttar Pradesh to have an emergency airstrip and the first in India specifically planned for full-time military aviation usage. It is meant to enhance the IAF’s war-waging ability, with instant deployment in such cases as a war emergency or natural calamities.
The demonstration caused serious interest, attracting hundreds of people, including students, who came to watch the spectacle. GBitaries witnessing the event were Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT Jitin Prasada, Finance Minister Suresh Khanna of Uttar Pradesh, and Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh. Security measures were tight, with over 250 CCTV cameras spread across the airfield to allow for real-time surveillance and instant response capacity.
This exercise showcases India’s abilities to use its infrastructure for defence logistics as well as for disaster relief operations. It also illustrates the strategic merit of using civilian infrastructure for military preparedness.
