📍New Delhi/Meerut | 25 Aug, 2026, 12:04 PM
India’s First Drone Runway: A large defense infrastructure project has begun in view of the strategic importance of drones and UAVs in India. The process of creating the country’s first dedicated drone and UAV runway in the Meerut Cantt of Uttar Pradesh has been accelerated. Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has released a new tender of Rs 371.15 crore for this project.
This project will be prepared in the millitory form area located on the Forla Road of Merit Cantonment. The proposed Aviation Infrastructure is to be built on about 900 acres of land. The project is being built under the Project Shivalik of BRO and aims to strengthen future military needs, drone operations and air mobility capabilities.
Let’s tell that Defence News first on February 15 this year First Drone Airbase in Meerut Information about making.
India First Drone Runway: Rs 371.15 crore will be made up of the project
BRO The project’s estimated cost of Rs 371.15 crore has been laid as per RFP issued on behalf of. Earlier the tender of Rs 406 crore was released for the same project. The Director General (North-West) has released new tenders with revised costs after subsequent change of the process.
After the tender process is completed, the selected agency will be given seven months to prepare detailed project reports i.e. DPR.
1,690 km long will runway
45 metres wide and at least 1,690 m long runway will be made under the project. The taxiway (where the aircraft reach the runway) and the apron (where the aircraft stand) will be developed.
Modern runway lighting system will be applied for safe flight operation at night and bad weather on runway. Also there will be an approach lighting facility like PAPI (Precision Approach Path Indicator), which helps pilots maintain the right direction and height during landing.
Runway as well as two large hangers will be created. The width of each hanger will be about 60m and length 50m. These hangers will be used to protect, maintain and technical functions of drones, UAVs and other aerial platforms. Also modern firefighting and fire alarm systems will be installed for security.
Apart from runways and hangers, taxi tracks, operational areas, technical support facilities and other aviation infrastructure will also be prepared.
C-295 and C-130 will also be able to operation
One of the most important features of this project is that not only the drones here, but also the transport aircraft of Indian Air Force. Runway is being designed such as large transport aircraft of Indian Air Force C-295 And C-130 can also fly and descend from here. This runway can also be used as a military logistics and air support hub in the future.
C-295 is a modern tactical transport aircraft, which is incorporated in the place of the Indian Air Force old AN-32 and Avro aircraft. While C-130J Super Hercules is used for special campaigns, deployment of troops, transportation of military equipment and emergency missions.
Not in tool SIM or E-SIM slot
Any equipment used on the side of the company must not have SIM or E-SIM slot. At the same time, no communication module can be applied to any country sharing the ground border of India and provides external mobile or network connectivity.
The electronic control unit (ECU) or control unit engaged in the equipment should not be of any country that shares the land border with India. This condition will apply to both original equipment and subsequently imposed spares.
Such multi-GNSS chips can not be used in the telematics system or hardware that supports GPS and GLONASS as well as China's Beidou Navigation System.
Also the equipment should have no facility like unauthorized remote access, remote control or remote closure.
Strong preparation on the western front
The country’s first dedicated drone and UAV runway being built in Meerut is being considered an important project towards monitoring India on the Western front and strengthening military preparations. During the operation shifts in May 2025, the utility of drone based surveillance and campaigns was also revealed.
This runway mainly formed in the Meerut Cantt. High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) being built for remotely piloted aircraft and large drone operations of the range. Modern ICO CAT-2 lighting systems and advanced navigation facilities will be installed on runway. This will allow safe flight operations in case of bad weather, mist or low visibility.
The approximate capacity of this centre will be to operate about 1,500 drone missions every year. On average, four drone flights will be operated here.
This runway of Meerut is being developed as an important hub for real-time intelligence, surveillance and reconstance (ISR) activities of Pakistan border and other sensitive areas. The High Altitude Long Endurance Drones that operate here will be able to monitor the Western border areas including Punjab, Rajasthan and Jammu Sector by staying in the air for a long time and the information required will be accessible to security agencies.
The Centre will also create training and testing activities
The facilities can also be developed for activities like drone pilot training, mission planning, technical testing and operational assessment in the proposed Aviation Infrastructure.
The operation of the remotely piloted aircraft system requires special training. In such a this centre can also play an important role as training venue for military personnel. Also facilities can be provided for testing new drone platform, sensors and techniques.
Disaster Management can also help
This project can also be useful in campaigns associated with disaster management. Relieving material, medical equipment and rescue crews can be delivered to increasingly affected areas due to the ability of large runway and transport aircraft operations.
Surveys, damage assessments and relief actions can also be monitored through drones under special conditions. That is why the project is not only from a military point of view, but also being seen as a multipurpose aviation infrastructure.
The goal of completing construction in 18 months
BRO has set a time of 18 months i.e. 548 days to complete its construction work. The maintenance period of five years is also fixed after the project is completed.
The selected company must experience aviation infrastructure construction as per the conditions involved in the tender. Technical capacity associated with large airfield, runway and hangar construction has also been included in the eligibility criteria.
