One civilian helipad now,a promised airport next year

A bright yellow signpost dug into the soft mud announces Sikkims only civilian helipad.

A bright yellow signpost dug into the soft mud announces Sikkims only civilian helipad. Bon voyage, read the black words on the sign in Burtuk,four kilometres from Gangtok. It is the only place that allows a civilian to fly out of Sikkim,the helicopter state-operated,the destination Bagdogra in West Bengal.

Over three-and-a-half decades since Sikkim became a state of India,it remains hit by the absence of air connectivity,creating a logistical nightmare to those seeking to provide relief following Sundays earthquake.

This will soon change,Central officials promise. Sikkim will have its first airport by 2012, said an Airports Authority of India (AAI) official. The AAI is building the most picturesque airport near Gangtok at a cost of Rs 310 crore. It says 48 per cent of the work is done and the remaining will be completed by June 2012. The airport,coming up at Pakyong,a 45-minute,34 kilometre drive from Gangtok,will support operations of an aircraft with up to 74 seats,and include hangars for two small ATR aircraft.

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The project had been approved in 2008. The construction has not been easy, admitted the AAI official. The hilly terrain,coupled with the fact that it rains six months of the year,poses challenges. As the roads are closed due to landslides,it is difficult for trucks carrying material to reach the site.

Another official attributed the delay to the inability of the state government to remove unauthorised construction from the site. Civil Aviation officials said their Ministry has held several meetings on air connectivity but has invariably been told that work has slowed due to the rains.

In 2010-11,the Centre provided Rs 80 crore as grant-in-aid to the AAI for development of eight airports including Pakyong. This year,2011-12,the proposed allocation has been hiked to Rs 150 crore.

Now,Sikkim relies on helicopter services provided by the Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation. The state government has leased a five-seat chopper from Pawan Hans Helicopters Limited and flies twice daily between Gangtok and Bagdogra. The heavily subsidised,one-way fare is

Rs 2,200 per person.

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Locals prefer the road route as,despite the subsidy,the airfare is prohibitive. It is only in an emergency situation that they take helicopters, said John Shanker,AGM,STDC. The journey,five hours by road,is cut to less than 30 minutes in a helicopter. There are severe restrictions; only five passengers and 50 kg baggage are allowed on a trip.

Following the earthquake,10 aircraft including those of the Army and the Air Force have been deployed. The infrastructure handicap includes the absence of a landing site for larger planes that could have carried more material or evacuated more people.