The grey hull of the C-130 Super Herculese transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force came thundering down from an overcast sky as it landed in a village called Agarawa in Rajasthan, barely 50 kms from the border with Pakistan. Running through the village, is a newly-inaugurated stretch of National Highway 925, which connects Barmer and Jalore towns.

Onboard the C-130 were Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari and Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, who stepped onto the 3-km stretch of NH925, on which the jet had descended for the first time.

#WATCH | In a first, Jaguar aircraft carries out a touch and go landing at the emergency landing field on the national highway in Jalore, Rajasthan pic.twitter.com/e2FIPHUUa2

— ANI (@ANI) September 9, 2021

Speaking at the event Defence Minister Singh said that “by creating an emergency landing strip so close to the border, we have sent across a message that India will protect its integrity and sovereignty at all costs”.

“The creation of this emergency landing field also instills enthusiasm in the mind, and also a confidence about the country’s safety. So today is a special day for all of us.” Singh said. He added, that “by constructing this field, just a few steps before the international border, we have proved how prepared we are to protect national security.”