Editing Sikkim (section)

== Transport ==
=== Air ===
[[File:Pakyongsikkim.jpg|thumb|right|Runway at [[Pakyong Airport]], is the first [[Greenfield project|greenfield]] airport to be constructed in the [[Northeast India]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/north-east-india/sikkims-first-ever-airport-all-set-to-fly-5363202/|title=Sikkim's Pakyong airport stuns before it flies|date=24 September 2018}}</ref>]]
[[File:Riverteesta.jpg|thumb|[[Teesta River]] is considered the state's key waterway.]]
Sikkim did not have any operational [[airport]] for a long time because of its rough terrain. However, in October 2018, [[Pakyong Airport]], the state's first airport, located in [[Pakyong|Pakyong Town]] at a distance of {{convert|30|km|abbr=on}} from Gangtok, became operational after a four-year delay.<ref>[http://zeenews.india.com/news/north-east/sikkim-s-first-airport-to-be-ready-by-2014_876027.html "Sikkim's first airport to be ready by 2014"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140712200905/http://zeenews.india.com/news/north-east/sikkim-s-first-airport-to-be-ready-by-2014_876027.html |date=12 July 2014}}. Zee News. 12 September 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2014.</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=First commercial flight lands at Pakyong |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/first-commercial-flight-lands-at-pakyong/articleshow/66075688.cms |work=The Economic Times |agency=Press Trust of India |date=4 October 2018 |access-date=4 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181005030925/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/first-commercial-flight-lands-at-pakyong/articleshow/66075688.cms |archive-date=5 October 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> It has been constructed by the [[Airports Authority of India]] on 200 acres of land. At an altitude of {{convert|4700|ft|m}} above sea level, it is one of the five highest airports in India.<ref>[http://www.punjlloydgroup.com/landmark-projects-gallery/sikkims-greenfield-airport "Sikkim's Greenfield Airport"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140619033342/http://www.punjlloydgroup.com/landmark-projects-gallery/sikkims-greenfield-airport |date=19 June 2014 }}. Punj Lloyd Group. Retrieved 18 December 2014.</ref><ref>[http://www.issmge.org/capg/files/Maccaferri-New_Airport_Sikkim.pdf "Sikkim's New Airport" (PDF)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140514065851/http://www.issmge.org/capg/files/Maccaferri-New_Airport_Sikkim.pdf |date=14 May 2014 }} Maccaferri Environmental Solutions Pvt. Ltd., India. Retrieved 18 December 2014.</ref> The airport is capable of operating [[ATR (aircraft manufacturer)|ATR]] aircraft.<ref>{{Cite news | url = http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090302/jsp/siliguri/story_10609938.jsp | title = Patel word on speedy airport completion—Sikkim hopes for spurt in tourist inflow | work = The Telegraph | location = Kolkata | date = 2 March 2009 | access-date = 14 June 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110526142739/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090302/jsp/siliguri/story_10609938.jsp | archive-date = 26 May 2011 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }}</ref>

Before October 2018, the closest operational airport to Sikkim was [[Bagdogra Airport]] near [[Siliguri]] in northern [[West Bengal]]. The airport is located about {{convert|124|km|mi|abbr=on}} from [[Gangtok]], and frequent buses connect the two.<ref>[http://sikkimtourism.gov.in/Webforms/General/Transport.aspx "How to reach Sikkim"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140701110740/http://sikkimtourism.gov.in/Webforms/General/Transport.aspx |date=1 July 2014}} Government of Sikkim. Retrieved 18 December 2014.</ref> A daily [[helicopter]] service run by the Sikkim Helicopter Service connects Gangtok to Bagdogra; the flight is thirty minutes long, operates only once a day, and can carry four people.<ref name="Thirty years">{{Cite web | url = http://sikkimipr.org/IPR/statehood/statehood_nutshell.htm | title = 30 Years of Statehood in a Nutshell | access-date =12 October 2006 | date = 24 November 2005 | publisher = Department of Information and Public Relations, Government of Sikkim | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060714083055/http://sikkimipr.org/IPR/statehood/statehood_nutshell.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> | archive-date = 14 July 2006 }}</ref> The Gangtok [[helipad]] is the only civilian helipad in the state.

=== Roads ===
[[File:Gangtok to Siliguri Bus.jpg|thumb|Gangtok to Siliguri Bus]]
[[National Highway 10 (India)|National Highway 10]] (NH 10; [[List of National Highways in India by highway number|formerly NH 31A]]) links [[Siliguri]] to Gangtok. Sikkim Nationalised Transport runs bus and truck services. Privately run bus, tourist [[taxicab|taxi]], and [[jeep]] services operate throughout Sikkim and also connect it to Siliguri. A branch of the highway from [[Melli]] connects western Sikkim. Towns in eastern, southern and western Sikkim are connected to the [[hill station]]s of [[Kalimpong]] and [[Darjeeling]] in northern West Bengal.{{sfn|Choudhury|2006|pp=84–87}} The state is furthermore connected to [[Tibet]] by the mountain pass of [[Nathu La]].

List of national highways of Sikkim:
{{Routelist top|unit=km|length_ref=<ref name="nh">{{cite web|url=https://morth.nic.in/sites/default/files/State_wise_Length_of_National_Highways_in_India.pdf|title=State-wise length of National Highways in India |date=30 November 2018|publisher=[[Ministry of Road Transport and Highways]]|access-date=9 May 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929205249/https://morth.nic.in/sites/default/files/State_wise_Length_of_National_Highways_in_India.pdf| archive-date=29 September 2020}}</ref>}}
{{Routelist row
|country=IND
|type=NH
|route=10
|length_km=52
|beltway=Gangtok – Singtam – Rangpo – West Bengal Border.
|notes=none
}}
{{Routelist row
|country=IND
|type=NH
|route=310
|length_km=87
|beltway=Ranipool (NH-31A) – Burtuk – Menla – Nathula
|notes=none
}}
{{Routelist row
|country=IND
|type=NH
|route=310A
|length_km=55
|beltway=Tashi view point – Phodong – Mangan
|notes=none
}}
{{Routelist row
|country=IND
|type=NH
|route=510
|length_km=70
|beltway=Singtam – Damthang- Legship – Gyalshing
|notes=none
}}
{{Routelist row
|country=IND
|type=NH
|route=710
|length_km=45
|beltway=Melli- Manpur- Namchi- Damthang- Tarku
|notes=none
}}
{{Routelist row
|country=IND
|type=NH
|route=717A
|length_km=112
|beltway=West Bengal Border-Reshi- Rhenock, Rorathang Pakyong a-junction with new NH No. 10 at Ranipool near Gangtok
|notes=none
}}
{{Routelist row
|country=IND
|type=NH
|route=717B
|length_km=42
|beltway=Junction with NH No. 717A at Rhenock – Rongli, Rolep -junction with NH No. 310 near Menla at Serethang
|notes=none
}}

{{Routelist bottom}}

=== Rail ===
Sikkim lacks significant railway infrastructure. The closest major railway stations are [[Siliguri Junction]] and [[New Jalpaiguri]] in neighbouring West Bengal.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://travel.mapsofindia.com/travel-sikkim/how-to-reach.html|title=How to Reach Sikkim|publisher=Maps of India|access-date=7 September 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090414194441/http://travel.mapsofindia.com/travel-sikkim/how-to-reach.html|archive-date=14 April 2009}}</ref> However, the New Sikkim Railway Project has been launched to connect the town of [[Rangpo]] in Sikkim with [[Sevoke]] on the West Bengal border. This line is [[Sivok–Rangpo line|Sevoke-Rangpo Railway Line]] from [[Sivok railway station]] to [[Rangpo railway station]].<ref>[http://www.constructionupdate.com/News.aspx?nId=WIcIBZdMByhLAS9Iyls+Og== "Finally, Sevoke-Rangpo railway link on track"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130528224619/http://www.constructionupdate.com/News.aspx?nId=WIcIBZdMByhLAS9Iyls+Og== |date=28 May 2013 }}. ConstructionUpdate.com. November 2009. Retrieved 12 November 2012.</ref> The five-station line is intended to support both economic development and Indian Army operations and was initially planned to be completed by 2015,<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/northbengalsikkimrai/ | title = North Bengal-Sikkim Railway Link | publisher = Railway Technology | access-date = 19 June 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120723122216/http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/northbengalsikkimrai/ | archive-date = 23 July 2012 | url-status = live | df = dmy-all }}</ref><ref>[http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/01/25/stories/2010012551081500.htm "Inspection survey for Sikkim rail link"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100131003127/http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/01/25/stories/2010012551081500.htm |date=31 January 2010 }}. ''The Hindu''. 25 January 2010. Retrieved 27 June 2013.</ref> though as of 2023 its construction has met with delays.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Train-to-Sikkim-poses-jumbo-threat/articleshow/18361095.cms|title=Train to Sikkim poses jumbo threat|date=6 February 2013|access-date=7 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502133052/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-02-06/flora-fauna/36949140_1_elephant-deaths-chief-wildlife-warden-state-wildlife-board|archive-date=2 May 2013|work=[[The Times of India]]|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2019, the railway line up to Rangpo was expected to be completed in 2021.<ref>Financial Express. [https://www.financialexpress.com/infrastructure/railways/indian-railways-new-sivok-rangpo-rail-project-travel-from-west-bengal-to-sikkim-in-just-2-hours-watch-video/1691100 Indian Railways new Sivok-Rangpo rail project: Travel from West Bengal to Sikkim in just 2 hours]. (30 August 2019).</ref> In the second phase the line will be extended up to [[Gangtok]].<ref>Times of India. [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/travel/destinations/very-soon-travelling-to-sikkim-by-train-will-be-a-possibility/as71172425.cms Very soon, travelling to Sikkim by train will be a possibility]. (17 September 2019).</ref> In addition, the [[Ministry of Railways (India)|Ministry of Railways]] proposed plans in 2010 for railway lines linking [[Mirik]] in West Bengal to [[Namchi]], [[Daramdin]], [[Ranipool]], and [[Gangtok]].<ref name="Gurung2010-12-09">{{Cite news | last = Gurung | first = Bijoy | date = 9 December 2010 | title = Sikkim tour dreams ride on rail plan | newspaper = Telegraph India | url = https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/sikkim-tour-dreams-ride-on-rail-plan-hope-for-pilgrims-trekkers-four-stations-in-hill-state/cid/458079 | access-date = 5 July 2020 | df = dmy-all }}</ref>