Sikkim’s first airport will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the 23rd of September. It will be a remarkable achievement for the Himalayan state which is strategically placed on the border with China. Not only is the airport located just 30 kilometers away from the state capital Gangtok but is also the closest airport on Indian soil to China, with China just 60 kilometers away from the newly constructed airport. This will bring China within easy approachable distance of the Indian Air force, and it will work as a deterrent for the ambiguous Chinese intentions in the future. The Sikkim airport which will be inaugurated by PM Modi tomorrow, received the mandatory license for operations in May this year. There are several things which will make this airport one of its kind in the country. Apart from boosting trade and tourism in Sikkim and other nearby north-eastern states it will also improve connectivity for the people of surrounding areas.
Located at an altitude of about 4,700 feet the airport offers a picturesque view to the travelers. With its approximately 4,700 feet elevation above sea level it is also one of the highest airport not just in the country but also in the world. Once it becomes operational it will be the 100th operational airport in the country which is a significant feat in itself. Aviation company Spicejet has been granted the permission to start flights from Kolkata to Sikkim under the ‘Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik’ or UDAAN scheme. Commercial operations are scheduled to begin from October this year following the inauguration by PM Modi while a test flight of a 78-seater Spicejet aircraft had already been conducted on the 11th of March earlier this year.
The airport boasts of 1.7 kilometers long runway which is a feat in itself considering it is built on treacherous mountain terrain. Apart from the 1.7-kilometer-long and 30 feet wide runway it also boasts of a taxiway, an apron, a fire station and a traffic control tower all of which have been built in record time at the behest of the central government led by PM Modi. This will greatly boost tourism in the state by drastically reducing the travel time to Sikkim. Earlier tourists who wanted to arrive at Gangtok had to take a flight to Bagdogra from where the distance to state capital Sikkim was 128 kilometers. This journey which took in excess of four hours will now be reduced a half hour journey of just 30 kilometers with the new airport now functional. The terminal has been built to handle over 100 passengers at a time, 50 passengers each in arrival and departure can easily be accommodated at any instance. The 25,000 square feet terminal is wide enough to handle the flow of passengers into, a car parking area which can accommodate 80 vehicles at a time has also been built to help passengers.
PM Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the airport after landing in Sikkim first thing tomorrow, following the inauguration he is scheduled to address a public meeting in the nearby town of Pakyong in the state. PM Modi will dedicate the airport to residents of Sikkim as a gift to the North Eastern state and its residents.