CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -The airport was built at an estimated cost of ₹ 605 crore and is an “engineering marvel” for its soil reinforcement and slope stabilisation techniques keeping in view the altitude it was built at, the officer said.

Detailed explanation-2: -Inaugurated on 24 September 2018 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, commercial flight operations started 4 October 2018. Upon its opening, major media across the globe praised its engineering and described it as one of the most scenic airports in the world.

Detailed explanation-3: -Spread over 201 acres (81 ha), the airport is located at Pakyong town about 31km (22 mi) south of Gangtok.At 4646 ft, Pakyong Airport is one of the five highest airports in India. It is also the first greenfield airport constructed in the Northeastern Region of India and the only airport in the state of Sikkim.

Detailed explanation-4: -“SpiceJet flights to and from Pakyong airport have been temporarily suspended with effect from October 30, 2022, due to operational constraints owing to the bad weather condition and low visibility at Pakyong.

Detailed explanation-5: -While a green field in nature is defined as a wide expanse of natural land (meadow, prairie, grassland), here greenfield denotes that a project lacks any constraints imposed upon it by prior work or existing infrastructure. ( A brownfield, on the other hand, remodels or improves upon existing facilities.)