Persistent rainfall stalls work at Pakyong Greenfield airport

63% WORK IN PHASE-I COMPLETE

ANAND OBEROI
GANGTOK, 29 Aug: Continuous and heavy rainfall in Pakyong and surrounding areas has led the Airport Authority of India (AAI) to temporarily suspend works at the Greenfield airport. However, with 63 percent of the work in the first phase already complete, the same is slated to be completed by the 2013 deadline.  
Speaking to NOW!, GM, AAI, SP Yadav informed that the first phase work will be completed by 2013 and that tenders for the second phase of construction have already been floated. “At present heavy rains have made us stop work but we will resume the same by the first week of October. The first phase of works estimated at Rs 254 crore will be completed within the specified time and works on the second phase estimated at Rs 45 to 50 crore will begin within two months,” he assured.
While stating that construction of the Sikkim airport has been a true example of how new technologies can be used to minimize impact on environment, cutting costs as well as speeding up construction work, he says that the first phase of works that actually started in October 2009 was in the advanced stages. The works include the construction of runway, apron, taxi track, retaining walls etc.
“We started work only in October 2009 which is when the Forest clearances came through. However, our pace has not slowed down at all and we are actually working on war-footing. We are confident that the whole airport complex including the second phase that has the technical block, terminal building, fire station and car park will all be completed by December 2014 or March 2015,” he stated.
The airport located at an altitude of 1700 meters [5577 feet] is being constructed by Punj Lloyd which is also building one of the tallest RE walls of the world, as high as 80.38 meters. It is informed by the GM, AAI at Pakyong that while executing this project, all efforts have been made to present a masterpiece with utmost emphasis on quality and safe working practices which are comparable to international standards and are worthy of being emulated by others.
It may be mentioned that the 2156 metre long tabletop airport with a basic width (strip) of 150 meters is planned to have a 1700 metre long and 30 metre wide runway. The airstrip is expected to cater to small turboprop aircraft like the ATR 72s in the beginning. When completed, it will be among the five highest airports of the country. The entire airport which will have Asia’s biggest Geogrid Reinforced Retaining Wall, is being constructed on a landing which is being created by building an 80.38 metre high embankment.
Sikkim is mainly formed by the oldest Pre-Cambrian rocks of Daling series and Darjeeling gneiss. They consist of phyllites and schists which make the slopes highly susceptible to weather and erosion. Excavation works for the runway made by cutting the Pakyong hill range between a height of 70m to 100m while the reinforced soil structures range between 70m-80m.
Punj Lloyd’s scope of work includes earthwork in cutting & filling, geogrid reinforced retaining walls, drainage system including box culverts and aerodrome pavements including apron, runway & taxiway. The material for the special reinforced wall which forms a major part of the construction and is expected to check soil erosion on the hill slopes, has been supplied by Maccaferri.
The official says that construction of an airport in Sikkim requires huge cutting and filling work. "Considering the geological conditions in Sikkim including seismic and environment, it was essential to adopt a design which not only meets the safety requirement but also blends well with the surroundings which are totally green," he said. Accordingly, new design and technology using local stones, earth vegetation and high strength geogrid was adopted which has proved not only environment friendly but has also resulted in speedy construction, flexibility and saving. The retaining walls were already constructed up to a 52-metre height and withstood the September 18 earthquake.
“We have also got the required land clearance from one Chunki Bhutia who vacated an acre of land for the project in May 2012. We are not experiencing any hiccups now and from here we will ensure smooth sailing,” stated the AAI GM.
It may also be informed that the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has bagged the Greentech Corporate Social Responsibility Award for its Greenfield airport at Pakyong in Sikkim. Greentech Foundation has selected AAI for Greentech CSR Award 2011 in Gold category in the aviation sector.