PM Modi to inaugurate Sikkim's first airport at Pakyong today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate Sikkim’s first airport at Paykong on Monday (September 24) which will improve the state tourism and general connectivity. PM Modi arrived at the Libing Army Helipad in Gangtok, Sikkim in an MI-8 chopper and was recieved by Governor Ganga Prasad, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling at Libing Army Helipad. The Pakyong airport is a Greenfield port that will cut short the five-hour journey through rough roads and bring the citizen closer to Gangtok. 

PM @narendramodi being welcomed by the dignitaries on his arrival at Gangtok, Sikkim. pic.twitter.com/QYBRhHIflv

— PIB India (@PIB_India) September 23, 2018

Earlier, Narendra Modi took to Twitter to share some photographs while travelling to Pakyong, Sikkim for the launch of the airport.

"Serene and splendid! Clicked these pictures on the way to Sikkim. Enchanting and incredible!" he captioned the photographs. 

Serene and splendid!

Clicked these pictures on the way to Sikkim. Enchanting and incredible! #IncredibleIndia pic.twitter.com/OWKcc93Sb1

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 23, 2018

PM Modi on Saturday announced that he would be leaving for Sikkim after the launch of  PMJAY-Ayushman Bharat in Ranchi, Jharkhand.

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“After the programme in Jharkhand, I will leave for Sikkim. In Sikkim, I will be inaugurating the Pakyong Airport tomorrow, which will improve connectivity and benefit the people of Sikkim,” Modi said on Twitter.

After the programme in Jharkhand I will leave for Sikkim.

In Sikkim, I will be inaugurating the Pakyong Airport tomorrow, which will improve connectivity and benefit the people of Sikkim.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 23, 2018

Pakyong airport’s foundation stone was laid in 2009 and after nine years Sikkim’s dream of having an airport is going to come true.

The first commercial flight from Pakyong would start from October 4. 

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The airport is located around 60 kilometre from the Indo-China border, and is strategically relevant from a security point of view.

Pakyong Airport will also aid the Indian Air Force (IAF) for landing and taking off various types of aircraft, said Union Minister for Development of Northeastern Region, Dr Jitendra Singh.

Glimpses from the Pakyong Airport in Sikkim, which PM @narendramodi will inaugurate tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/h1VD8Khj6g

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) September 23, 2018

It has a runway of 1.75 km with a 30 metre width and has state-of-art facilities.  Earlier, IAF’s Dornier-228 aircraft was tested from the Pakyong airport, officials said.

SpiceJet was next to conduct test runs from Kolkata to Pakyong on March 10 and was hence cleared by security personnel for commercial operations, they said.

The security has been kept tight due to the arrival of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the launch of the Pakyong Airport in what is being termed as a historic day for Sikkim.