Sikkim’s First Airport Inaugurated by PM Modi in Pakyong

The airport in Pakyong will connect travellers directly to Gangtok, saving them the time  of travelling 120 kilometers from Siliguri’s Bagdogra airport. 

(Photo Courtesy: Airports Authority of India)

Putting Sikkim on the aviation radar, the state’s first airport was inaugurated there on Monday, 24 September by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the presence of Chief Minister Pawan Chamling and Union Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu. Commercial flights are set to begin from 4 October.

The prime minister had reached Sikkim on Sunday to inaugurate the state's first airport at Pakyong.

The stunning greenfield airport, located 30km from capital Gangtok, has been built at a height of 4,500 feet in an inhospitable terrain. Once open, it will put Sikkim on the aviation map.

The mountain state was the only one in the country without a functional airport earlier. 

“Work is progressing at high pace to strengthen both infrastructural emotional connectivity to Sikkim and the North-east. I’ve been here myself to check the development work in Northeast and Union Ministers regularly visit the region.”

PM Modi in his Inaugural Speech in Pakyong

Visuals from Pakyong Airport. 

PM Modi inaugurates Pakyong airport.

PM Narendra Modi with Chief Minister Pawan Chamling and Union Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu.

‘Manmohan Singh’s Vision Has Come to Life’: Congress

Soon after the inauguration, the Congress, in a tweet, said that Dr Manmohan Singh’s vision for Pakyong Airport had come alive.

After inaugurating the airport, PM Modi will address a public meeting at St Xavier’s School in Pakyong and return to New Delhi the same day, Chief Secretary AK Shrivastava said after chairing a high-level meeting.

Visual Marvel

The airport is located in Pakyong, 30 kms from capital Gangtok.

The stunning greenfield airport has been built at a height of 4,500 feet in an inhospitable terrain.

(With inputs from PTI)

(This copy first said Sikkim airport was the 100th airport of India, quoting PM Narendra Modi. However, the claim has been proven false. Read more here.)