Reviving Sikkim's Connectivity: A Parliamentary Plea

Sikkim's sole Lok Sabha representative, Indra Hang Subba, has appealed to Sanjay Kumar Jha, head of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism, and Culture, for urgent support to restore flight operations at Pakyong Airport and improve connectivity in the state's northern regions.

Subba highlighted the ongoing crisis faced by residents and tourism stakeholders in North Sikkim due to recent natural calamities, such as the Glacier Lake Outburst Flood of October 2023 and June's flash floods, which inflicted severe damage to infrastructure, including the critical Toong-Naga stretch, isolating key tourist destinations.

In his representation, Subba stressed the need for swift restoration of roads and bridges, development of climate-resilient infrastructure, and special relief for the tourism sector. He also noted the roads' strategic significance near the India-China border and sought the resumption of SpiceJet operations at Pakyong Airport to bolster connectivity.

(With inputs from agencies.)