Will PM Modi Launch Development Projects in Sikkim and Bengal Today?

New Delhi, May 29 (NationPress) Prime Minister Narendra Modi is poised to partake in the golden jubilee festivities celebrating 50 years of Sikkim's statehood at the Paljor Stadium in Gangtok on Thursday.

In honor of this milestone, the Prime Minister will engage in 'Sikkim@50: Where Progress Meets Purpose and Nature Nurtures Growth'.

This significant occasion will mark Sikkim's evolution from a monarchy into the 22nd state of India in 1975, following a referendum that facilitated the integration of the former Chogyal kingdom with the Indian Union.

The northeastern state, recognized as India's second smallest, achieved complete statehood on May 16, 1975. This accession was accompanied by a unique constitutional safeguard -- Article 371F -- which ensures the protection of Sikkim's distinct ethnic identity, cultural heritage, and customs.

Over the last fifty years, Sikkim has emerged as a beacon of sustainable development and eco-conscious governance, receiving both national and international acclaim for its green initiatives and environmental commitment.

The Sikkim government has organized a year-long array of events themed 'Sunaulo, Samriddha and Samarth Sikkim', celebrating the essence of the northeastern state's rich culture, traditions, natural beauty, and historical significance.

During his visit, PM Modi will also lay the foundation stone and inaugurate various developmental projects, including a new 500-bedded district hospital worth over Rs 750 crore in Namchi district; a Passenger Ropeway at Sangachoeling, Pelling in Gyalshing District; and a statue of Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee at Atal Amrit Udyan in Sangkhola, Gangtok District, among others.

Additionally, the Prime Minister will unveil the commemorative coin, souvenir coin, and stamp celebrating 50 years of statehood.

Although PM Modi was initially scheduled to attend the Statehood Day celebrations on May 16, the visit was postponed due to Operation Sindoor -- India's military response to terrorism sponsored by Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror incident on April 22.

In anticipation of this high-profile event, the Sikkim government has extended formal invitations to all officers from the rank of Deputy Secretary and Under Secretary (and their equivalents), along with personnel from various state departments, public sector undertakings, and central government agencies in Gangtok.

To ensure the smooth execution of the ceremony, the Sikkim government had previously issued an advisory regarding the temporary closure of offices and schools in Gangtok, along with restrictions on vehicular movement across key routes in the capital.

Later in the day, the Prime Minister will proceed to Alipurduar in West Bengal, where he will lay the groundwork for the City Gas Distribution (CGD) project in the Alipurduar and Cooch Behar districts.

This initiative aims to broaden clean energy infrastructure in the region.