IAF reactivates Mechuka air strip near Indo-China border

In a major boost to the country's rapid airlift capability for forward operations and troop deployment, the Indian Air Force has re-activated its strategic Advanced Landing Grounds (of Mechuka in West Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh.

The ALG, which was re-activated on Sunday, was non-functional since 2013 following its reconstruction work along with the ALGs of Aalo, Ziro, Tuting, Pasighat and Tezu, an official release stated.

Located at an elevation of around 7,000 ft from the mean sea level, the ALG has now been reconstructed and made broader and longer with many modern facilities, it said.

Inaugurating it in presence of CCE (NEP), IAF authorities, army authorities and local administrative authorities, Air Marshal C Hari Kumar appreciated all for successfully completing the project despite challenges like high-altitude location and difficulties in transporting materials and machineries.

Situated along the international border, Mechuka was one of the strategic locations during the Indo-China war in 1962. The McMohan Line is around 40 km from Mechuka town.

The IAF had started its operations with Dakota and Otter in 1962 in the area and subsequently the Antonov-32, popularly known as AN-32, was operated till October 2013 before the reconstruction work was started, the release said.

"People of Mechuka are very co-operative and respectable. They are the main contributors in achieving this tough task," the air marshal said.