Pakyong Airport nearing completion, Aviation Minister tells Parliament

NEW DELHI, 21 July [PIB]: Minister of State for Civil Aviation, GM Siddeshwara, informed the Lok Sabha today that the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has taken up the project for construction of new Greenfield Airport at Pakyong, Sikkim at a cost of Rs. 309.46 crore for operation of ATR-72 type of aircraft. So far, 83% of the work has been completed.
The project has been delayed by over 50 months due to several hindrances like poor connectivity of site, adverse weather conditions, frequent bandhs and unrest by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, earthquake in 2011 and continuous agitation by the local inhabitants of the surrounding areas of the airport project demanding compensation for damage to their houses.
The date of completion of the Pakyong Airport project can be projected / re-assessed only after all the issues pertaining to compensation and security at the site are resolved by the State Government.

Controlled rock blasting at Pakyong Airport site

GANGTOK, 13 April: Huge mass of earth cutting and filling is underway at the Pakyong airport site. A press release informs that to speed up the progress at the site, the commissioned agency, Punj Lloyd, has arranged for controlled rock blasting after obtaining necessary clearances from all the regulatory authorities and further following the codal procedures.
Even though the rock breakers/ heavy excavating machineries were already deployed but it was felt necessary to go ahead simultaneously for blasting operations, the release explains. The process has been underway since 05 April and till date approximately 75 kg of gelatin has been utilized at the site. SDM & SDPO, Pakyong were also present during the process of blasting on 10 April, the release adds.