Sikkim Cabinet invites fresh tenders for construction of airport at Pakyong

Sikkim Cabinet invites fresh tenders for construction of airport at Pakyong
New tenders will be accepted at both national and international level for the project
Express News Service

Kolkata, June 15: THE Sikkim government Cabinet meet presided by Chief Minister PawaN Chamling, cancelled previous tenders and invited fresh tenders for the construction of a airport at Pakyong today, to be built on a Private-Public partnership (PPP) model.

The state government instructed the roads and bridges department to engage a consultant to frame the terms and conditions, based on which, fresh tenders will be accepted at both national and international level for the project.

Delay in the project was due to shortage of funds, which is supposed to be provided by the Planning Commission and Ministry of Civil Aviation.

The Airport Authority of India (AAI) had taken about three years to make a detailed project report (DPR) in this regard. The total project cost is estimated at Rs 339 crores.

According to state government sources, the Civil Aviation ministry was still studying the feasibility of the project.

The state government has spent Rs 100 crores to acquire the land for the proposed airport after which it was handed over to AAI.

Sources said the the 12th Finance Commission has earmarked Rs 100 crores for the project.

However, the delay in the execution and funding of the project has forced the state government to look for alternative ways of making up for the delay.

CII invites Chamling for India Week exhibition at NY
CONFEDERATION of Indian Industries (CII), an apex body of all national and regional chambers of commerce in the country, has invited Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling to attend India Week exhibition for Northeast (NE) states to be held at New York from September 23 to 26 this year. Chamling has accepted the invitation. CII chairman, Northeast states chapter, Dipankar Chatterjee and deputy director general Subroto Neogy said here that the produce of NE states would be exhibited for the first time in America. The exhibition will also form a platform for the states to interact with American investors. To encourage industry in NE states, Centre has already extended a 10-year tax exemption to investors in Sikkim and other Northeast states