Pakyong (Sikkim): Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday inaugurated the first greenfield airport of Sikkim at Paykong. Sikkim's dream of having an airport came true nine years after a foundation stone for it was laid here, around 33 km from state capital Gangtok, in 2009.

The first commercial flight from Pakyong would begin from October 4.

Pakyong airport will pave the way for direct connectivity to Sikkim and is the 100th airport of the country.

Located around 60 km from the Indo-China border, the airport is spread across over 201 acres and is located on the top of a hill about two km above Pakyong village at 4,500 feet above sea level, Sikkim Chief Secretary A K Srivastava said.

PM also addressed the crowd soon after inaugurating the airport and said, "Work is progressing at high pace to strengthen both, infrastructural&emotional connectivity to Sikkim&Northeast. I've been here myself to check the development work in Northeast and Union Ministers regularly visit the region".