PM virtually inaugurates projects in Sikkim, unveils Atal statue

Among the major projects, PM Modi inaugurated a ₹750-crore, 500-bed district hospital in Namchi and a passenger ropeway in Gyalshing to boost connectivity and tourism

Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually laid the foundation stones and inaugurated several key development projects across Sikkim on Thursday, after bad weather forced the cancellation of his planned visit.

 

Among the major projects was a new 500-bed district hospital in Namchi, worth over ₹750 crore. The PM also inaugurated the Passenger Ropeway at Sangachoeling, Pelling in Gyalshing District, which is expected to boost connectivity and tourism in the region.

 

Sikkim as a global tourism hub

 

During his virtual address, PM Modi said every state should develop tourist destinations that can achieve international recognition. “The time has come for Sikkim to become a global tourist destination,” he said, highlighting the state’s potential for adventure and sports tourism.

 

 

“Our dream is to make Sikkim a hub of conferences, wellness, and concert tourism. I want the world’s biggest artists to perform in the valleys of Gangtok,” PM Modi said. “We conducted G20 meetings in Sikkim so the world could understand the state’s potential.”

 

The PM said that the goal of 'Viksit Bharat' (developed India) can be achieved through four strong pillars: the poor, farmers, women, and youth. He praised Sikkim’s farmers for leading in organic agriculture and said the central government is constructing India’s first organic fishery cluster in Sikkim to create new opportunities for the youth.

 

During the virtual event, PM Modi also unveiled the statue of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at Atal Amrit Udyan in Sangkhola, Gangtok.

 

PM’s other state visits this week

 

PM Modi’s visit to West Bengal is scheduled for later today at around 2:15 pm, where he will lay the foundation stone for the City Gas Distribution project in Alipurduar and Cooch Behar. The ₹1,010 crore project aims to deliver piped natural gas to 2.5 lakh households, set up 19 CNG stations, and supply clean fuel to businesses.

 

Later in the evening, at around 5:45 pm, PM Modi will visit Bihar to inaugurate the new terminal at Patna airport, built at a cost of ₹1,200 crore and designed to handle one crore passengers annually. He will also lay the foundation for a new civil enclave at Bihta airport, a ₹1,410 crore project near IIT Patna and a planned NIT campus.

 

On Friday at 2:45 pm, PM Modi will be in Uttar Pradesh to launch and inaugurate projects worth around ₹20,900 crore. In Kanpur, he will open the Chunniganj to Kanpur Central Metro stretch, part of a ₹2,120 crore metro expansion with 14 new stations, including five underground ones.