PM Modi inaugurates Sikkim's 1st and 100th airport in India

Gangtok, Sep 24: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates the first airport in Sikkim which is situated at an altitude of 4500ft at Paykong. PM Modi is on a two-day visit to Sikkim.

PM Modi hailed Pakyong Airport as also an example of our engineering marvel.

Modi said, "Sikkim has its own importance. People are drawn towards Sikkim because of its beauty: We have linked Sikkim's Pakyong Airport to the UDAN Yojna."

"There are now 100 airports in India. The country has scored a century today," said PM.

The airport will provide a big boost to connectivity in the Himalayan State, and also give a fillip to tourism.

"Work is progressing at a high pace to strengthen both, infrastructural&emotional connectivity to Sikkim and Northeast. I've been here myself to check the development work in Northeast and Union Ministers regularly visit the region," he added.

PM Modi is on a two-day visit to Sikkim. The Prime Minister reached in Gangtok in an MI-8 chopper from Bagdogra and was received by Governor Ganga Prasad, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling and others at Libing Army Helipad.

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.

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.

New Greenfield Airport at Pakyong

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates the New Greenfield Airport at Pakyong, in Gangtok, Monday, September 24, 2018. The first commercial flight from Pakyong would begin from October 4.(Twitter Photo via PTI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses during the inauguration of New Greenfield Airport at Pakyong, in Gangtok, Monday, September 24, 2018. The first commercial flight from Pakyong would begin from October 4. (PIB Photo via PTI)

Aerial pictures shot by PM Modi

Aerial pictures shot by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his way to Sikkim to inaugurate the Pakyong airport, in Gangtok, Sunday, September 23, 2018. (@narendramodi Twitter via PTI)

Aerial pictures shot by PM Modi

Aerial pictures shot by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his way to Sikkim to inaugurate the Pakyong airport, in Gangtok, Sunday, September 23, 2018. (@narendramodi Twitter via PTI)