Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate the Pakyong greenfield airport, around 33 km from Gangtok, on Monday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday arrived on a two-day visit to Sikkim where he will inaugurate the state's first-ever airport at Pakyong on Monday.
He will also address the people at the St Xavier's School at Pakyong after inaugurating the airport.
The Prime Minister reached in an MI-8 chopper from Bagdogra and was received by Governor Ganga Prasad, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling and others at Libing Army Helipad. From the Army helipad, Modi's entourage travelled around 5km to the Raj Bhawan where he stayed for the night. Later at Raj Bhawan, Modi met BJP leaders and representatives of various social organisations.
During the two-day visit, Modi will inaugurate the Pakyong greenfield airport, around 33 km from Gangtok, on Monday. Modi on Sunday said the first airport in Sikkim will improve connectivity, benefitting the people of the state.
The establishment of the airport is expected to provide a major impetus to tourism, with Sikkim being perceived as one of the most popular destinations for tourists all throughout the year. It is also expected to cause a significant reduction in travel time for tourists, who earlier had to board from Bagdogra in West Bengal. Located around 60 kms from the Indo-China border, the airport is strategically relevant from a security point of view.
Here is all you need to know about Sikkim's first ever airport:
1. Pakyong airport is located around 60 kilometres away from the India-China border
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The Pakyong airport is located around 60 kilometres away from the India-China border, making it strategically relevant. The Indian Air Force (IAF) will now be able to land various types of aircraft on the runaway of Pakyong airport. On March 5, IAF's Dornier-228 aircraft was tested from Pakyong, officials said.
(Photo: Doordarshan)
2. Pakyong Airport has been constructed in the extremely rough terrain
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The Pakyong (Gangtok) airport is an extraordinary example of engineering as it has been constructed in the extremely rough terrain. It has been built at a height of 4,500 feet. Pakyong Airport Director R Manjunatha said the land for the airport was carved from the mountainside using massive geotechnical 'cut and fill' engineering works
(Photo: Doordarshan)
3. The airport has been built at a cost of estimated cost of over Rs 605 crore
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The first-ever airport of Sikkim has been built at an estimated cost of over Rs 605 crore. At present, the nearest airport from Sikkim is located 124 km away in Bagdogra in West Bengal. Sikkim has achieved the distinction of becoming the first "Organic State" of India and also the first "Open Defecation Free" (ODF) State of India.
(Photo: Zee Media)
4. Foundation stone of the airport was laid in 2009.
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The airport is spread over 201 acres and is located on top of a hill about two km above Pakyong village at 4,500 feet above sea level, Sikkim Chief Secretary A K Srivastava said. The airport has 3,000 sq metre terminal building and has a capacity to handle 50 in-bound and as many out-bound passengers.
(Photo: PIB)
5. The airport has a 1.75 km runway with a width of 30 metre
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The airport has a 1.75 km runway with a width of 30 metre. It has a 116-metre-long taxiway connecting it to an apron measuring 106 metre by 76 metre that can simultaneously accommodate two ATR-72 aircraft. Integrated structures comprising an ATC tower-cum-fire station, two sophisticated CFT, one terminal building for passengers, high-intensity runway lights, parking for over 50 vehicles are some of the features of the airport.
(Photo: PIB)
6. The airport was constructed by the Airports Authority of India
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The airport is an "engineering marvel" for its soil reinforcement and slope stabilisation techniques keeping in view the altitude it was built at, Sikkim Chief Secretary A K Srivastava said. The reinforcement wall of the project is 80-metre-high, one of the tallest in the world.
(Photo: PIB)
7. SpiceJet conducted test runs of the 78-seater Bombardier Q400 from Kolkata to Pakyong on March 10
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The first commercial flight from Pakyong would begin from October 4. SpiceJet will operate 78-seater Bombardier Q400 flights to and fro Delhi, Kolkata and Guwahati everyday under the Civil Aviation Ministry's Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) scheme. The airport would only cater to domestic flights, but later it will also provide international flight services connecting Sikkim with other countries like Paro in Bhutan, Kathmandu in Nepal and Dhaka in Bangladesh.
(Photo: PIB)
