Ganga Expressway Now Battle Ready! IAF Showcases Night Ops

The Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted its groundbreaking "land and go" drill on a 3.5-km airstrip of the Ganga Expressway in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh, on Friday, marking India’s first expressway airstrip capable of both day and night fighter jet operations.

Unlike previous daytime-only drills on the Lucknow-Agra and Purvanchal expressways, this exercise, held amid tensions following the April 22 Pahalgam attack, showcased the IAF’s round-the-clock readiness.

Aircraft including Rafale, SU-30 MKI, Mirage-2000, MiG-29, Jaguar, C-130J Super Hercules, AN-32, and MI-17 V5 helicopters performed low fly-pasts, landings, and take-offs during daytime and night sessions from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

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The event, secured by 250 CCTV cameras and local police, drew crowds of students and locals. Superintendent of Police Rajesh Dwivedi confirmed trial runs near Piru village in Jalalabad, with 40 km of surrounding areas secured to prevent stray animals.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who inspected the site last Sunday, was among top officials present. BJP’s Anil Gupta highlighted the airstrip’s strategic proximity to the Pakistan border, noting its role in wartime scenarios.

Gurukul Bird School’s principal, Pooja Yadav, and student Kritika shared their awe at witnessing the jets. The Rs 36,230-crore Ganga Expressway, approved in 2021, will be Uttar Pradesh’s fourth with an airstrip, enhancing emergency operational flexibility despite construction delays.

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