Sikkim now on country’s aviation map; PM Narendra Modi opens India’s 100th airport at Pakyong

Pakyong: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated 100th airport of India. With opening of Pakyong airport, Sikkim state is now part of India’s aviation map. Soon Spicejet will start flights connecting to Sikkim from Kolkata and Guwahati with lowest fare at Rs 2500. With this, all capitals of India are now having airports. Speaking on this occasion, union Civil Aviation minister Suresh Prabhu said, the new airport will boost flower business in Sikkim. He said tourists would come in more number, stay more and spend more with opening of airport in Sikkim. Prabhu said in so many years after independence the country has 100 airports. The government is planning to open another 100 airports in next only 15 years. Prabhu said Prime Minister had conveyed him to think big and do big as expectation of people is big.

Speaking in this function, Sikkim Chief Minister said the state is sensitive border state located at tri-junction of China, Bhutan and Nepal. It is a landlocked state but it is terrorism-free, peaceful most and developing state. Patriotism and communal harmony run in vein of people in Sikkim. He thanked Prime Minister for allowing entry of Karmapa in Sikkim. He demanded arrangement of seat in the assembly for two tribal communities of Sikkim ahead of assembly and Lok Sabha polls. He also demanded constitutional right inclusion of those left out.

Dedicating the airport to the nation, PM Modi said the Pakyong airport is not only a tribute to the beauty of Sikkim but also to the engineering marvel. “It’s a century for the country today. I would like to congratulate the planning team and the engineers involved in building the airport. The airport was inaugurated today, but the pictures have been trending on social media for the last few days. The government is trying to boost infrastructure projects and connectivity in Northeast.”

Taking a jibe at the former UPA government, Modi said, “Out of the 100 airports in India today, 35 airports have come up in the past four years. This shows our zeal. Our government is working with the motto of ‘sabka saath sabka vikaas.’ In the north-eastern states, a lot of development has taken place for the first time — from air to rail connectivity, to even electricity.”

The airport constructed by the Airports Authority of India is spread over 201 acres and is equipped with ATC tower-cum-fire station, two sophisticated CFT, one terminal building for passengers, high-intensity runway lights, parking for over 50 vehicles. The Indian Air Force (IAF) would be able to land various types of aircraft on the airport’s runway with the construction of another 75-metre stretch adjacent to the main runway in the coming days, Sikkim Chief Secretary A K Srivastava said.

The reinforcement wall of the project is 80-metre-high, one of the tallest in the world, the chief secretary said. Pakyong Airport Director R Manjunatha said the land for the airport was carved from the mountainside using massive geotechnical ‘cut and fill’ engineering works. The first commercial flight from Pakyong would begin from October 4.

DeshGujarat