Bhubaneswar: As many as 20 helipads equipped with night landing facility have been built in three states, including Odisha, for counter-insurgency operations against Maoists in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) areas.
Thirteen helipads have come up in Chhattisgarh, four in Odisha and three in Jharkhand, according to the CRPF. All are operational now.
The helipads with night landing facility will serve as force multipliers as paramilitary personnel injured in operations can now be evacuated even at night. Reinforcements can also be rushed at night instead of waiting till morning.
CRPF officials said all the helipads are fitted with sensors and infrared-enabled features to guide choppers during landing at night. Pilots have been specially trained to operate at these helipads.
