Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting Sikkim and West Bengal today to launch a series of development projects and participate in the golden jubilee celebrations of Sikkim’s statehood.
At Paljor Stadium in Gangtok, the Prime Minister will attend the event titled ‘Sikkim@50: Where Progress Meets Purpose and Nature Nurtures Growth’, marking 50 years since the former kingdom became the 22nd state of India. Sikkim’s statehood in 1975 followed a historic referendum that ended its monarchy and facilitated its merger with the Indian Union. The state was granted special constitutional protection under Article 371F, aimed at preserving its unique ethnic identity and cultural traditions.
Over the last five decades, Sikkim has gained recognition for its sustainable development practices and environmental efforts. The state government has planned a year-long celebration under the theme ‘Sunaulo, Samriddha and Samarth Sikkim’, honouring its cultural richness and developmental journey.
During his visit, Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for multiple development initiatives, including a new 500-bedded district hospital in Namchi, a passenger ropeway at Sangachoeling in Gyalshing district, and a statue of Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee at Atal Amrit Udyan in Gangtok district. He will also release a commemorative coin, souvenir coin and stamp to mark the 50th anniversary of Sikkim’s statehood.
In preparation for the Prime Minister’s visit, the Sikkim government issued an advisory announcing the temporary closure of offices and schools in Gangtok and imposed traffic restrictions across key routes. Formal invitations were extended to all senior officials, including Deputy Secretaries and Under Secretaries, along with staff from various departments and public sector undertakings.
Later in the day, PM Modi will visit Alipurduar in West Bengal, where he will lay the foundation stone for the City Gas Distribution (CGD) project in Alipurduar and Cooch Behar districts. The initiative is aimed at expanding clean energy infrastructure in the region.