Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh, Aug 19 (UNI) To boost the nation’s rapid airlift capability for forward operations and troop deployment, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju today dedicated the upgraded Advance Landing Ground (ALG) at Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh to the nation. Air Marshal C Hari Kumar, AVSM, VM, VSM, air officer commanding-in-chief Eastern air command (EAC) were also present during the occasion. A flypast by a three aircraft Sukhoi-30 MKI air dominance fighter that took off from one of the forward EAC airbases, was a highlight of the event. This was followed by a SU-30 MKI also landing at the ALG. The touchdown by a front line fighter jet of the IAF at the ALG is a ‘historic first’ in the predominantly hilly state of Arunachal Pradesh, which has several ALGs at varying altitudes. The fighter jet operated by Group Commander Satbir Singh and co-pilot Flight Lt Mustaq Ahmed. Earlier, Rijiju landed at the newly constructed ALG by a special BSF helicopter along with legendary melody queen Asha Bonsle, who on her maiden appearance in Arunachal to tie rakhis to the soldiers who are guarding the nation from any type of eventuality. The ALG at Pasighat was taken over by the IAF in February 2010. Earlier, it was a small strip that was partly paved, partly grassy and reinforced with perforated steel plates. It was utilised in the past for air maintenance sorties and casualty evacuation by the IAF. Commercial helicopter operations were also undertaken from the helipads that existed earlier. Following an MoU between GoAP and Ministry of Defence in June 2009, the IAF had embarked on an ambitious construction plan to upgrade eight ALGs, including infrastructure development at an overall outlay of Rs 1000 crore. The ALGs for upgradation are - Tuting, Mechuka, Along, Tawang, Ziro, Pasighat, Walong and Vijaynagar in Arunachal Pradesh in which five were functional, however, two ALGs at Tuting and Tawang are expected to be ready by the year end, while the ALG at Vijaynagar would be undertaken for reconstruction as soon as the road connectivity between Miao and Vijaynagar is restored, the officials informed. The new Pasighat ALG runway surface and other infrastructure built are similar to the other upgraded ALGs that have been inaugurated in the recent months. Replete with facilities such as aprons for ground manoeuvring, air traffic control tower, perimeter road and a security wall , the ALG will facilitate operations of fixed wing aircraft as well as helicopters of both and civil and military operations. The ALG at Pasighat will facilitate air connectivity with rest of the country and give huge fillip to tourism in the state, they hoped. UNI PB ABI SHS 1544