Prime Minister Narendra Modi played football with young people in Gangtok, Sikkim, on April 28, sharing the experience on social media to highlight a lighter moment during his visit to the northeastern state.
Posting a video on the platform The footage showed him interacting warmly with children on a football field and actively participating in the game, eliciting enthusiastic responses from those present.
The post received widespread attention online, with users commending the Prime Minister’s engagement with youth and his efforts to promote sports and fitness nationwide.
During his visit, Mr Modi is scheduled to visit the Orchidarium in Gangtok. The Swarnajayanti Maitri Manjari Park has been developed as a world-class Orchid Experience Center to showcase the ecological and floral heritage of Sikkim.
Later, he will attend the closing ceremony of Sikkim’s 50th Year of Statehood celebrations at Paljor Stadium. There, he will inaugurate, launch, and lay foundation stones for multiple development projects worth over ₹4,000 crore across the state, spanning infrastructure, connectivity, healthcare, education, power, urban development, environment, tourism, and agriculture. He will also address the gathering.
In healthcare, the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for a 100-bed Ayurveda Hospital at Yangang in Namchi district and inaugurate a 30-bed Integrated Sowa Rigpa Hospital at NIT Deorali, enhancing access to traditional and integrative medicine in Sikkim.
In education, he will inaugurate the permanent campus of Sikkim University at Yangang; the administrative block of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose University of Excellence at Chakung; Helen Lepcha Medical College at Socheygang in Gangtok district; and Dentam Professional College at Dentam in Gyalshing district. He will also open model residential schools at Hee Gyathang, a new model degree college at Mangshila in Mangan district, and a monastic hostel-cum-classroom at Boomtar Gumpa in Namchi district. Additionally, he will launch IT-enabled educational infrastructure projects across 160 schools in Sikkim.
To improve connectivity, the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for two hinged double-lane steel arch bridges over the River Teesta at Sirwani and Lower Samdong, connecting Namchi and Gangtok districts. He will inaugurate the widening and strengthening of the Birdhang to Namchi road via Kitchudumra, enhancing inter-district accessibility and facilitating smoother movement of people and goods.
In the power sector, he will inaugurate the improvement, upgradation, and revamping of the transmission and distribution network in Gangtok to strengthen reliable power supply.
Regarding urban development and administrative infrastructure, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the Jan Seva Sachivalaya (Mini Secretariat) at Lumsey and the Civil Service Officers Institute in Gangtok. He will also open housing projects including the Sikkim Urban Garib Awas Yojana at Lingding, housing for police personnel, and Grade ‘C’ quarters at SAP Pangthang. He will lay the foundation stone for the Sadhbhav Mandap (Public Utility Centre) at MG Marg.
For environmental protection, the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for sewerage rehabilitation at Singtam town under river pollution abatement initiatives. He will also inaugurate the pollution abatement scheme for River Rani Chu through Roro Chu river in Zone III, Gangtok, supporting improved urban sanitation and sustainable ecosystems.
In tourism and pilgrimage, he will inaugurate the redevelopment of the Ridge Precinct in Gangtok; eco-tourism and pilgrimage infrastructure at Dodak, Soreng; facilities related to the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra at 18th Mile and Hangu Lake; and a Yatri Niwas at Krishna Pranami Mangaldham, Namphing. He will also lay the foundation stone for an Eco-Pilgrimage Complex at Silnon in Gyalshing district.
The Prime Minister will inaugurate the Sikkim IFFCO Processing Plant aimed at boosting agro-processing and strengthening farmer livelihoods. He will also open indoor cricket facilities at Mining, Rangpo in Pakyong district to promote youth engagement and sports development.
This visit marks a significant milestone in the golden jubilee year of Sikkim’s statehood and reflects the government’s ongoing commitment to the rapid and sustainable development of Sikkim and the broader Northeast region.
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