Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the much awaited Pakyong airport, the first in the north-eastern state of Sikkim.

Following the inauguration, PM Modi said that the Sikkim airport will improve connectivity, benefiting the people of the state.

People of Sikkim today realized on long awaited dream following the nine year wait of getting its first commercial airport after foundation stone for the airport was laid at Greenfield in 2009.

The Pakyong Airport is a Greenfield airport situated 30-km from Gangtok. It has now become the 100th operational airport in the country.

The airport has been conceived at a budget of Rs 605.59 crore. The runway of the airport, built on the mountainous terrain, is around 1.7 kilometres long and 30 metres wide, reports say.

A taxiway, an apron, a fire station and a traffic control tower have also been built.