Vijoynagar ALG reopens after 3 years

ITANAGAR, Sep 19: The runway of the advanced landing ground (ALG) at Vijoynagar in Changlang district has been made operational to reestablish military transport aircraft connectivity to the village, close to the border with Myanmar.
An An-32 aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) touched down at the Vijoynagar ALG on Wednesday, after a gap of three years.
The approximately 4,000 ft-long runway of the ALG is presently fit for only An-32 operations, Shillong-based IAF spokesman, Wing Commander Ratnakar Singh, said.
The resurfaced runway of the ALG was inaugurated by Eastern Air Command Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Air Marshal RD Mathur along with General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Lt Gen Anil Chauhan.
Repair of the runway, which was coordinated by the Jorhat (Assam) IAF station, was a challenging task as Vijoynagar had no road connectivity and all the load had to be airlifted by helicopters, the spokesman said.
The movement of larger transport aircraft to and from the ALG would act as a catalyst for the development of the area and facilitate movement of the locals, he said.
“The airfield is important not only for the local administration in extending their reach to the residents of this remote area but also crucial from a strategic point of view.
“The ALG will assist in effective management of our borders with Myanmar and facilitate launch of joint operations by the Indian Army and the IAF,” the spokesman said. (PTI)