World Economic Forum Praises Sikkim Airport; Calls It ‘An Engineering Masterpiece’

World Economic Forum (WEF), a prominent international organisation based in Switzerland, has praised the newly constructed Pakyong airport in Sikkim, calling it an ‘Engineering Masterpiece’.

The airport, built at a cost of $68.7 million, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 24 September 2018. Pakyong airport is the 100th airport in India.

Pakyong airport is built at a height of 1,370 metres by cutting the Himalayan mountainside.

"This airport was built at a cost of $68.7 million and showcases our engineers, workers and their potential -- how the mountains were cleared, the ditch was filled, the heavy rains they dealt with. This is truly an amazing feat of engineering." said Prime Minister Modi, on the inauguration of the airport.

“After the opening of the airport, there are now 100 operational airports in India." said the Prime Minister.

Pakyong airport is the first airport in the hilly north eastern state of India. It is situated in Pakyong village, at a 30-km distance from the state’s capital, Gangtok.

The airport, with a 1.7-km-long runway, approved in 2008, was slated to be completed by 2012, but due to difficult terrain, landslides and local factors was, it was delayed till 2018.

Indian airline company Spicejet will be starting its flight from the airport to Kolkata from 8 October 2018.