Union Minister Ramdas Athawale announced that Sikkim may soon have a new airport to help boost tourism in the state. Addressing a press conference, the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment expressed the Centre's commitment to Sikkim's development, particularly in the tourism sector.
Athawale highlighted that under the leadership of Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, Sikkim had shown remarkable progress, especially in tourism.
"The whole of the Northeast has made tremendous progress under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi," he added.
Athawale is on a two-day visit to Sikkim and also acknowledged the demands from the state BJP for an all-weather international airport. Sikkim currently has the Pakyong airport, which, due to low visibility issues, often leads to the closure of services for months.
Sikkim currently has the Pakyong airport, which, due to low visibility issues, often leads to the closure of services for months.
The Pakyong airport, which serves as the only operational airport in Sikkim, is located around 35 kilometres from the state capital, Gangtok.
Despite its strategic location, the airport faces frequent disruptions due to poor visibility, particularly during the monsoon season when fog and clouds often obscure the runway.
This limits the connectivity of the state with the rest of India, especially with major cities like Delhi, Kolkata, and Guwahati.
"I am confident that the establishment of a new airport will help boost tourism in the state," said Athawale.
The proposed new airport would be the second airport in the state and would aim to solve these connectivity issues by offering an all-weather, international-grade facility, making it easier for tourists and travellers to access Sikkim year-round.
Athawale, during his vist, also maintained that the government is committed to the overall progress of Sikkim. He congratulated the people of Sikkim, as the state is celebrating 50 years of statehood.
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