Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya Scindia on Friday, 15 May conducted a wide-ranging review of infrastructure and development projects across Namchi district in Sikkim, covering education, tourism, tea production, and sports. The visit, the second day of his official tour to the state, underscored the Centre's push to accelerate development spending in the northeastern region.

University Campus Under Construction

Scindia inspected the under-construction Khangchendzonga Sikkim State University at Tarku in Namchi — set to become the state's first dedicated university campus. Spread across 28 acres, the project is receiving financial support from the North Eastern Council under the Ministry of Development of the North Eastern Region (DoNER). Officials briefed the Minister that the campus is expected to accommodate over 1,500 students once complete. Scindia reviewed progress on the administrative block and urged planners to incorporate more greenery and natural elements in keeping with Sikkim's ecological character.

Temi Tea Garden and Export Potential

The Minister visited the Temi Tea Garden and its processing unit, where he interacted with workers and estate officials. He reviewed production and packaging processes and discussed the estate's export potential. A key focus of the discussions was the garden's transition to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)-based manufacturing to reduce carbon residue — a move aimed at improving both quality and sustainability. Scindia, who conversed with tea workers in Nepali, was also briefed on ongoing efforts to secure a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for Temi tea, which would strengthen its brand identity in global markets.

Tourism Circuit and Adventure Eco-Centre

Scindia reviewed the Indian Himalayan Centre for Adventure and Eco Tourism and examined plans for the proposed Namchi–Temi–Ravangla tourism circuit, being developed with DoNER support. The circuit is designed to link three distinct destinations in southern Sikkim into a cohesive tourism belt, potentially drawing both domestic and international visitors to the region.

Bhuleydunga Skywalk: A Record-Setting Ambition

Among the most ambitious projects reviewed was the Bhuleydunga Skywalk, being developed under the Prime Minister's Development Initiative for the North East Region (PM-DevINE) at a cost of ₹220 crore. The proposed structure — a 240-metre circular glass skywalk at an elevation of 3,200 metres — is expected to become the world's highest skywalk upon completion, according to officials. If realised, it would position Sikkim as a marquee adventure tourism destination on the global map.

Sports Push and Sikkim Premier League

Scindia also attended the semi-final of the fourth edition of the Sikkim Premier League at the Bhaichung Stadium in Namchi. At the event, he highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision to transform the Northeast into a major sporting hub. This comes amid broader Centre-level efforts to build sports infrastructure across the northeastern states as part of regional development policy.