thehindu.com
Kallol Bhattacherjee
November 22, 2015
Even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke of better connectivity between India and the Southeast Asian region at the ASEAN summit at Kuala Lumpur, India’s easternmost strategic airfield at Teju has been revived with a new runway. The runway can now host heavy lift aircraft as well as long range bombers which can cross the Greater Himalayan range within minutes .
The airfield, which is the result of slow and hard work over several years, is surrounded by the green and white Himalayan range in the background. Teju is part of the six strategic airfields that were planned for Arunachal Pradesh. Five more airports are underway at Tawang, Daparizo, Anini, Koloriang and Hollangi. But the Teju airfield which will increaseair connectivity with the region is unique as it is the easternmost landing strip in the country. However, local sources have told The Hindu that a major strategic airfield is barely months from completion at Walong too. Once ready, the Walong landing strip along side the Teju airfield will multiply India’s strategic reach into East and Southeast Asia.
Jogin Tamai, Political Assistant, Arunachal Pradesh, told The Hindu from Teju that the runway at the airfield has been completed ahead of the January 2016 deadline. “The runway is ready and we hope to have the official inauguration sometime soon,” he said. Work on the Teju airport was specially difficult as connectivity is extremely poor with the Teju-Walong region due to the mountains and the Lohit river.
