Prime Minister Narendra Modi will begin a two-day visit to Sikkim on Monday as the Himalayan state prepares to hold the closing ceremony of its 50th Year of Statehood celebrations. The visit is expected to bring a major development push to the state, with projects worth more than Rs 4,000 crore set to be inaugurated, launched, or announced across multiple sectors. According to the official schedule released by the Prime Minister’s Office, Modi is expected to arrive in Gangtok at around 3 pm on April 27. During his visit, he is scheduled to take part in several programmes, including public engagements and meetings connected to the statehood celebrations. The Prime Minister’s visit comes at a significant moment for Sikkim, which is marking 50 years since it became the 22nd state of India on May 16, 1975. The concluding ceremony of the Golden Jubilee celebrations is expected to witness the participation of senior government officials, public representatives, students, and people from different parts of the state.
On April 28, Modi will begin his official engagements with a visit to the newly developed Swarnajayanti Maitri Manjari Park, also known as the Orchidarium, in Gangtok. Officials said the Orchid Experience Centre has been developed to showcase the rich biodiversity and floral heritage of Sikkim, which is known for its large variety of orchids and rare Himalayan plant species. Later in the morning, the Prime Minister is scheduled to attend and address a public gathering at Paljor Stadium during the closing ceremony of the statehood celebrations. During the programme, he is expected to inaugurate, dedicate, and lay foundation stones for a large number of projects related to healthcare, education, connectivity, tourism, infrastructure, urban development, agriculture, environment, and the power sector. One of the major healthcare projects includes the foundation stone laying ceremony for a 100-bed Ayurveda hospital at Yangang in Namchi district. The Prime Minister is also expected to inaugurate a 30-bed Integrated Sowa Rigpa Hospital at NIT Deorali. Officials said these institutions would help strengthen traditional and integrative healthcare systems in the state and improve medical access for people living in remote areas.
In the education sector, Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the permanent campus of Sikkim University at Yangang. Other education-related projects include the Administrative Block of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose University of Excellence at Chakung, Helen Lepcha Medical College at Socheygang in Gangtok, and Dentam Professional College in Gyalshing district. The Prime Minister will also lay foundation stones for two double-lane steel arch bridges over the Teesta River in the Sirwani and Lower areas. Authorities said the bridges would improve transportation and strengthen road connectivity in strategically important regions of the state.