Paykong: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday inaugurated the first airport in Sikkim at Pakyong. The Prime Minister reached Sikkim on Sunday evening on a two-day visit to the Himalayan state.
The airport, spread over 201 acres is located on a hill top at a distance of about 2 kms from Pakyong village. Located at an altitude of 4,500 feet above sea level, the airport is an engineering marvel. It was constructed by the Airports Authority of India. After inauguration, the airport became Sikkim’s first and India’s 100th airport.
During the inauguration, PM Modi said the Sikkim airport will improve connectivity and benefit the people of the state. He added that Sikkim’s dream of having an airport came true nine years after a foundation stone of the greenfield airport was laid around 33 km from Gangtok in 2009. Prior to this, Bagdogra Airport in West Bengal, located 124 kms away from Pakyong, was the nearest to Sikkim.
PM Modi reached Sikkim after launching the Ayushman Bharat- National Health Protection Mission from Ranchi on Sunday. Earlier, he had inaugurated the Jharsuguda airport and Talcher Fertilizer plant in Odisha on Saturday.
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