Prime Minister Narendra Modi  dedicated Pakyong Airport in Sikkim to thenation today. It is Sikkim’s first airport and the 100th operational airport inthe country . Mr Modi arrived in thestate capital Gangtok yesterday after launching the world’s largest health careprogramme – Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana from Ranchi in Jharkhand.

In atweet, Prime Minister said, Pakyong airport will improve connectivity andbenefit the people of Sikkim. Built at a cost of over 600 crore rupees, theairport is situated at an elevation of 4,500 feet above the sea level. About 30km from Gangtok, the airport brings Sikkim on the aviation map. Commercialflights will begin from October 4th when Spicejet will start its dailyKolkata-Sikkim flights.

Pakyong Airport Director R Manjunatha said, initiallythe airport will cater to domestic flights only, but later it will also provideinternational flight services connecting Sikkim with other countries like Paroin Bhutan, Kathmandu in Nepal and Dhaka in Bangladesh.