PAKYONG AIRPORT UPDATE

Punj Llyod bags Pakyong airport contract
Rs.264 crores project to be completed in 24 months

SE Report
GANGTOK, January 6: Over a decade after the Centre gave a nod for an airport to Sikkim, construction for the State’s first Greenfield airport at Pakyong is expected to commence from the second week of January after Punj Llyod Group was awarded the contract by Airports Authority of India (AAI) today.
Punj Llyod, a diversified engineering, procurement and construction conglomerate, announced the winning of Pakyong airpot project for Rs.264 crore and the project is to be completed in 24 months.
The scope of the project includes construction of 30-m wide runway of 1.7 km length, taxiway, apron drainage system and electrical work for the airport.
According to reports, Punj Lloyd Group said that it is a challenge to build an airport in the hilly terrain. According to the company the airport will have a height of 1404 m above mean sea level. The scope of work shall involve excavation of 100 m depth and earth filling of slopes of 80 m height, stabilised with Geogrid Reinforced Retaining Wall.
A large volume of earthwork, 65 lac m3, shall involve blasting in hard rock apart from excavation in soft rock and soil. To protect the environment, excavated slopes of 100 m height will be planted with local species of flora.
A long pending demand of the State government, the air link of a landlocked Sikkim is now finally set in the right direction. Sikkim has only a national highway which is frequently subject to political and natural disturbances as evident in 2008.
The air link is will also give a boost to the tourism potential of Sikkim. More than 5 lakhs tourists visited Sikkim last year and the State is targeting to attract 7 lakhs tourists by the next 3 years.
On October 16 last year, the Union Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs had given its approval for construction of the Greenfield Airport at Pakyong.
“Sikkim has substantial tourism potential due to its scenic and natural beauty. As such, direct air connectivity to Sikkim is essential from socio-economic and strategic considerations. Besides, direct air connectivity would also promote tourism and other economic activities in the State”, the committee had stated while approving the project.

sOURCE: sIKKIM eXPRESS)