Pakyong airport is a wonder created by engineers: PM Modi in Sikkim
Pakyong, Sept 24 (IBNS): Inaugurating Sikkim's first airport in Pakyong, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday hailed all engineers for creating "wonder" by making the airline service possible in the Himalayan state.
Addressing a gathering, Modi said: "The way the engineers made the Pakyong Airport in the hills is a wonder."
"I congratulate all the engineers, workers for making the airport."
The Pakyong Airport, which became the 100th airport in the country, is 35 km away from Gangtok and 60 km away from India-China border.
The runway of the airport is 1.75 km long, the report said.
Modi seized the opportunity to highlight the developmental works his government is doing, taking an indirect dig at the Congress, which ruled the country for a long time.
He said: "Out of 100 airports, 65 were made between 1947 and 2014 with one per year on an average. Since we (Bharatiya Janata Party) came to power (at Centre) in 2014, nine airports have been made per year on an average."
"Our developmental works are going on to improve the connectivity in Sikkim and North-East," the Prime Minister said.
Pakyong Airport Director R Manjunatha told NDTV that the flight service will begin on Oct 4.
SpiceJet will operate 78-seater Bombardier Q400 flights to and from Delhi, Kolkata and Guwahati everyday, NDTV reported.
The airport has been built at an estimated cost of Rs. 605 crore.
image: twitter.com/BJP4India
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