‘90 percent of State Govt works at Pakyong Airport completed’

Gangtok: Ninety percent of the works to be undertaken by the State Government Departments to remove the encumbrances such as trees, shifting of electrical transmission lines, shifting of rural water supply pipe lines, relocation of chortens etc at the under construction Green Field Pakyong airport site have been completed.
This was reviewed during the second meeting of the Project Implementation Committee for Construction of Pakyong Airport, which was chaired by the Chairman of the Committee Karma Gyatso today at the airport site.
During a meeting held with the representatives of the Airport Authorities of India (AAI), the Central government agency responsible for construction and operation of the airport, Mr. Gyatso said many departments had succeeded in sticking to the deadlines set in the previous meeting despite periodical disturbances by seasonal rainfall. At the same time, he said that the State government was very serious about the airport project completion time and that any delay would not only mean lost economic opportunities but also cost escalation.
Mr. Gyatso, who is also the Additional Chief Secretary cum DC, DPER & NEC instructed others lagging behind to take up their tasks with renewed vigour, keeping in mind that the top priority to the project accorded by the State government.
The meeting was held today after spot inspection of the airport site by the committee members.
“From the view point of the AAI representative, it emerged that their main concern is the diversion road which is yet to be made fully operational,” said a press statement issued by the State Transport Department.
The AAI also had no objection to the new deadline as their representative GD Gupta said that in any case because of the rainfall no serious work can be taken up until the monsoon rainfall recedes, it is informed.
The District Collector (E), D. Anandan informed the members that land required by AAI to the extent of 197.72 acres has been handed over to the AAI, already which was also confirmed by the AAI representative in the meeting.
According to the AAI representative, the schedule date of completion of the run-way is January, 2011 and rest of the buildings and other infrastructure facilities will be in place by January, 2012.
21/08/09 Sikkim Express/Voice of Sikkim

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Categories: Airports Aug 2009, New Aug 2009