DoNER Ministry approves projects worth over Rs 400 crore in Sikkim

Prakash Adhikari and Sujal Pradhan, EOI, Gangtok, September 6, 2024: DoNER Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Friday announced the approval of his Ministry for various proposals and projects suggested by the Sikkim Government. He was addressing a news conference in Gangtok jointly with the Chief Minister of Sikkim, Prem Singh Tamang, during his two-day visit to Sikkim.

Among the key proposals from the Sikkim Government approved by the DoNER Ministry were Rs 6 crore for a hospital at Mangan, Rs 170 crore for the establishment of a government medical college in Gangtok, and Rs 150 crore for the procurement of medical equipment and furniture for the Namchi District Hospital. These funds would strengthen the healthcare infrastructure in both urban and rural areas of the Himalayan state.

Minister Scindia told reporters that the Centre was committed to the development of Sikkim. Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, in his address, expressed gratitude towards the Union Minister and the Centre for the support and said that within five days, projects worth over Rs 400 crore had been approved for Sikkim.

Earlier in the day, the DoNER Minister held a review meeting of DoNER projects in Sikkim with the Chief Minister. The meeting focused on accelerating the developmental initiatives of Sikkim. In the review session, where Sikkim Minister Raju Basnett was also present, the ongoing DoNER schemes and the performance of the State Level Empowered Committee to align developmental programs with the vision of growth for Sikkim were discussed.

Scindia assured full cooperation from the DoNER Ministry to fast-track projects and enhance medical services in the state. This was in tune with the broader national goal to improve infrastructure across the North-East, he said. He offered insights and guidance for the effective execution of key projects.

Since 2014, the BJP-led government at the Centre had allocated significant amounts for infrastructure. The railway budget had seen a leap from Rs 2,000 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 10,000 crore in 2023. The national highway development had expanded to 16,000 km, and rural road construction now covered 50,000 km, with an investment of Rs 48,000 crore. Air connectivity in the North-East had also improved dramatically.

“The region now boasts of 17 airports, including the Pakyong airport of Sikkim. This expansion aligned with the broader vision of integrating Sikkim more seamlessly into the national infrastructure framework. National Highways in Sikkim were 140 km long. Now, they had a remarkable expansion to 709 km, a five-fold increase. The Sevoke–Rangpo railway project aimed to connect Sikkim with the national rail network by August 2025, making a historic first for the state,” he added.