Namchi, May 15 Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya Scindia reviewed key initiatives across Namchi on the second day of his official visit to Sikkim, covering education, tourism, tea production, and sports development.
Scindia interacted with local stakeholders, students, tea workers, and young sportspersons, while reiterating the Government of India’s continued focus on strengthening infrastructure, livelihoods, and grassroots opportunities across the Northeast.
Scindia visited the under-construction Khangchendzonga Sikkim State University at Tarku in Namchi, the first state university being developed in Sikkim.
Spread across 28 acres and partially funded by the North Eastern Council under the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region with an allocation of Rs 9.61 crore, the university is expected to accommodate over 1,500 students upon completion.
During the visit, the Minister reviewed the progress of the administrative block and campus infrastructure.
Observing the natural landscape and pedestrian pathways around the campus, he suggested incorporating additional greenery and natural elements within the university’s design framework to further align the infrastructure with Sikkim’s ecological character.
He also congratulated the engineering and implementation teams on the pace of ongoing work.
Scindia later visited the Temi Tea Estate and the Temi Tea Processing Unit in Namchi, where he interacted with tea garden workers and estate officials.
He reviewed various stages of tea production, processing, and packaging, and discussed the estate’s international market outreach and export potential.
He also interacted with women tea pluckers and estate workers during his visit to the plantations and processing facilities, all while speaking fluent Nepali.
Scindia visited the Indian Himalayan Centre for Adventure and Eco Tourism, Chemchey, where he reviewed the proposed Namchi–Temi–Ravangla tourism circuit being developed in coordination with the Government of Sikkim and the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region.
During the review, the Minister took stock of the facilities and activities under development at the Indian Himalayan Centre for Adventure and Eco Tourism, including rock and ice climbing, cycling tracks, trekking, skiing, mountaineering, and guided eco-tourism activities.
Later in the day, Minister Scindia attended the semi-final of the fourth edition of the Sikkim Premier League at the Bhaichung Stadium in Namchi.
Addressing players and attendees, the Minister highlighted PM Modi’s vision of transforming the Northeast into a major sporting hub of the country.
Scindia also spoke about the “One Sport, One State” developmental approach and the Ministry’s 60:40 framework, which prioritises coaching, talent scouting, and technology alongside the creation of sports infrastructure.
He further noted the growing role of the Sikkim Premier League in creating opportunities for young footballers across the state.
Union Minister Scindia also travelled via the 3.5-km-long Bhaleydhunga Ropeway and reviewed the progress of the Bhaleydhunga Skywalk Project being developed in Namchi under the Prime Minister’s Development Initiative for North East Region scheme of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region for Rs 220 crore.
During the visit, Scindia took stock of the progress of implementation and the associated infrastructure components linked to the project.
Once completed, the 240-metre-long circular glass Bhaleydhunga Skywalk, proposed at an elevation of 3,200 metres, is expected to become the world's highest skywalk and further strengthen Sikkim’s tourism infrastructure and adventure tourism potential.
--IANS
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