Picturesque Sikkim will have air connectivity by next year when construction of a green-field airport at an altitude of 4,700 feet will be completed.
Sikkim Tourism Minister Bhim Prasad Dhungel told Union Tourism Minister K Chiranjeevi that construction work on Rs 300 crore project being implemented by Airport Authority of India was going on in full swing and it will be completed by December 2014.
The airport, one of the five high altitude airports in India, is being constructed at 200 acre land, around 30 km south of capital Gangtok, an official release said.
The airport, with 180 meters long airstrip, will facilitate the flights of ATR-72 planes and include hangars for two small ATR aircraft.
Presently, the nearest airport to Sikkim is located 124 kilometres away at Bagdogra in West Bengal.
Dhungel said it will open alternative connectivity to the Northeastern state as at present the state is solely dependent on National Highway 31 for connectivity with rest of the country.
The Dungel also requested Chiranjeevi to provide central assistance of Rs 20 crore for upgradation of helipads in the state in conformity norms with the DGCA.
He said the state government has constructed helipads at Namchi, Palling, Dalapchen, Lachung, Ravong, Dodak, Yangang and Mangan and all these helipads needed to be upgraded for meeting modern safety standards.
