India’s highways could be used as runways

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is suggesting that new highways could also be designed as backup runways for its air defence fleet. The first highway to be constructed so that it could also be used as a runway is likely to be the 302km Lucknow-Agra Expressway. This route will be operational by the end of 2016. The IAF has been working on plans to build emergency runways and has been developing solutions for mobile logistics support. It has also been researching suitable road sections and the minimum infrastr
May 18, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
The Indian Air Force (IAF) is suggesting that new highways could also be designed as backup runways for its air defence fleet. The first highway to be constructed so that it could also be used as a runway is likely to be the 302km Lucknow-Agra Expressway. This route will be operational by the end of 2016.

The IAF has been working on plans to build emergency runways and has been developing solutions for mobile logistics support. It has also been researching suitable road sections and the minimum infrastructure requirements needed. The plans have been shared with India’s Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. The runways would serve as alternative runways for operations if key IAF air force bases were to be attacked.

The idea of using a highway as a temporary runway is by no means new. The first stretches of Germany’s Autobahn system were constructed in the 1930s and these were considered from the outset as being suited to use as temporary runways. During the latter part of WWII, a number of Autobahn sections were used as temporary runways, particularly for fighter operations. Other countries too have used sections of highway at times for military aircraft.

Road Structures

Related Content

  • New road funding plans face uncertain future
    September 29, 2014
    Worldwide the issue of road investment is facing close scrutiny. Developing nations are concentrating on developing road networks, benefiting from foreign loans or investments. Meanwhile in developed nations, the focus is more on road network repair rather than expansion.
    Read More
  • Highway 407 Revisited – smart tollroad extension
    June 7, 2016
    In the late 1990s, World Highways published a supplement on construction of Canada’s Highway 407, the world’s first all-electronic toll road. But how successful has it been? David Arminas reports from Toronto The head office for 407 ETR Concession Company is a low-rise building next to exit 59, just north of Toronto, Canada’s economic powerhouse. The building may be non-descript but inside is the advanced technical heart of Highway 407 ETR – Express Toll Route. It houses the latest toll monitoring techno
    Read More
  • Asphalt plant assists at airport project
    December 19, 2017
    An asphalt plant from ADM has helped in the reconstruction of the runway at South Caicos Airport. Herzog Caribbean recently took delivery of its new asphalt plant to supply material for the runway overhaul on South Caicos Island. The plant, an ADM EX120, delivered 23,000tonnes of material for the project without any downtime, allowing for an April 2017 completion. A division of Missouri-based Herzog Contracting, Herzog Caribbean operates out of Providenciales, the capital city of Turks & Caicos, British We
    Read More
  • Recycling from the wings to centre stage
    May 20, 2014
    Driven by the price of virgin aggregates and strong environmental concerns, the recycling of reclaimed asphalt already is and will increasingly be a hot topic within the asphalt plants’ and associated equipment manufacturing sector, says Kathrin Richter, marketing manager for Ammann’s Asphalt Division “Until a few years ago, the question was: How much reclaimed asphalt can one add to the recipe mix? Today, the question is more likely to be: How much fresh material should I add to the reclaimed asphalt? Ove
    Read More

Highlighted Content