India has hit a century in aviation today with the Pakyong Airport as PM Modi dedicated this to Sikkim as its first airport on Monay.  Indai got its 100th airport today and 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. This airport launched through the UDAAN scheme and now travelling by air has become as cheap as travelling in a train's AC class, said PM Narendra Modi in his address.

"India has hit a century today with the Pakyong Airport and I dedicate this to you": PM Narendra Modi in Sikkim

Work is progressing at the high pace to strengthen both, infrastructural and 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: PM Modi at the inauguration of Pakyong Airport, Gangtok.Sikkim.

My dream of 'hawai chappal to hawai yatra' is being fast realized: PM Modi expressed his happiness.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Pakyong Airport near Gangtok in Sikkim. CM Pawan Chamling & Union Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu were also present.

India has hit a century in aviation today with the Pakyong Airport as PM Modi dedicated this to Sikkim as its first airport on Monay.  Indai got its 100th airport today and 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. This airport launched through the UDAAN scheme and now travelling by air has become as cheap as travelling in a train's AC class, said PM Narendra Modi in his address.

Here are the features of Pakyong Airport

1-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.

2-The airport was built by the Airports Authority of India. At present It is the nearest airport from Sikkim , is located 124 km away in Bagdogra in West Bengal.

3-The airport was constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 605 crore and is an "engineering marvel" for its soil reinforcement and slope stabilisation techniques keeping in view the altitude .

4-Integrated structures comprising an ATC tower-cum-fire station, two sophisticated CFT, one terminal building for passengers, high-intensity runway lights, parking for over 50 vehicles are some of the features of the airport

5-The fortification wall of the project is 80-metre-high, one of the tallest in the world

6-The Pakyong airport is located around 60 km from the Indo-China border.

7-Now The Indian Air Force (IAF) would be able to land various types of aircraft on the airport's runway with the construction of another 75-metre stretch adjacent to the main runway in the coming days

8-It has a 1.75 km runway with a width of 30 metre. It also has a 116-metre-long taxiway connecting it to an apron measuring 106 metre by 76 metre that can concurrently put up two ATR-72 aircraft.

9-The airport has 3,000 sq metre terminal building and has a capacity to handle 50 in-bound and as many out-bound passengers.