Sikkim’s only airport, Pakyong Airport, will be renamed Trilochan Pokhrel Airport in honour of freedom fighter Trilochan Pokhrel. The announcement was made during the 31st Foundation Day celebration of the Akhil Sikkim Khas Chettri Bahun Kalyan Sangh at Rangpo ground near the West Bengal border.
About Trilochan Pokhrel
Trilochan Pokhrel, popularly known as “Gandhi Pokhrel”, is regarded as the first independence activist from Sikkim.
He belonged to the Khas, Chettri, Bahun community, a sub-group within the Gorkha community.
Key Contributions
| Movement | Participation |
| Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–22) | Active involvement |
| Civil Disobedience Movement (1930–34) | Participated |
| Quit India Movement (1942) | Took part in freedom struggle |
Influence and Association
- Deeply inspired by Mahatma Gandhi.
- Influenced by principles of non-violence and Satyagraha.
- Lived with Gandhi at:
- Sabarmati Ashram (Gujarat)
- Sarvodaya Ashram (Bihar)
- Spread nationalist ideas in Sikkim during the freedom movement era.
- He passed away in 1969.
- In 2018, the Sikkim government posthumously honoured him with the L. D. Kazi Award for his role in the democratic movement.
Significance of Renaming
- Honours Sikkim’s contribution to India’s freedom movement.
- Recognises the role of tribal and Gorkha communities in the independence struggle.
- Strengthens regional identity and historical remembrance.
- Links national infrastructure with local historical legacy.
About Pakyong Airport
| Feature | Details |
| Location | Pakyong, East Sikkim |
| Elevation | 4,500 feet above sea level |
| Area | 201 acres |
| Distance from India-China border | Approx. 60 km |
| Type | Greenfield Airport |
| Inauguration | September 2018 |
| Inaugurated by | Narendra Modi |
- Pakyong Airport became India’s 100th operational airport in 2018.
- Before its construction, Sikkim was the only Indian state without an airport.
Strategic Importance
- Located close to the India–China border (around 60 km).
- Provides logistical and strategic connectivity to the Himalayan region.
- Reduces dependence on Bagdogra Airport (West Bengal), which is about 120 km away.
Engineering Significance
Pakyong Airport is globally recognised for its engineering:
- Built by carving land from a mountainside using advanced geotechnical cut-and-fill methods.
- One of the tallest reinforced soil structures in the world.
- Constructed using geogrid soil reinforcement and slope stabilisation techniques.
- Italian geotechnical company Maccaferri won the International Project of the Year Award (Ground Engineering Awards 2012) for constructing 70-metre-high reinforced soil walls and slopes.
Operational Challenges
- Flights were introduced to Kolkata, Guwahati, and Delhi.
- In June 2024, operations were suspended due to adverse weather conditions.
- The Union Civil Aviation Ministry has initiated steps to resume operations.
What is a Greenfield Airport?
A Greenfield project:
- Is built on an undeveloped site.
- Faces no constraints from previous infrastructure.
- Is constructed from scratch where:
- No airport previously existed, or
- Existing airport capacity is inadequate.
- Pakyong Airport is a prime example of a greenfield aviation project in mountainous terrain.