The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh has assured the Chief Minister of Sikkim, Shri Pawan Kumar Chamling that Ministry of DoNER is committed to support major development projects in Sikkim and will also coordinate with other Union Ministries to expedite the projects under their purview. Before concluding his three-day visit to Sikkim today, Dr Jitendra Singh took a review of the various projects of the Ministry of DoNER in the State from the senior officers of the Ministry of DoNER and North Eastern Council (NEC). He also exchanged inputs with Chief Secretary Shri Alok Srivastava and other senior officers of the State Administration.
Later, talking to media persons, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the people of Sikkim were extremely grateful to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for having launched the “Organic Farming Mission” which will be a role model for other States to follow. Though being a very small State, he said, Sikkim is very progressive and development-oriented, which is evident from the fact that during the 11th Five Year Plan, it recorded an impressive growth rate of 22.8%.
Referring to various projects being supported by the Ministry of DoNER, Dr Jitendra Singh disclosed that under "Non Lapsable Central Pool of Resources" (NLCPR), 183 projects have been completed in the State at the cost of Rs. 487.91 crore, while in addition, 41 projects worth Rs. 721.89 crore are ongoing. Similarly, under the North Eastern Council (NEC), 54 ongoing projects have been approved for the State of Sikkim at a cost of Rs. 321.33 crore for which, an amount of Rs. 218.54 crore has already been released.
Giving details of some of the landmark projects in the offing, Dr Jitendra Singh mentioned the Greenfield Airport at Pakyong, which is expected to be ready in 2017 at a revised cost of Rs. 605.59 crore. Another unique project, he said, is that of 45 km long Sevoke-Rangpo railway line at the cost of Rs. 4190 crore which will have the distinction of having 14 tunnels and 28 bridges. This railway line will offer an exclusively picturesque and scenic journey while passing through the foothills of Kanchenjunga mountain range and Teesta River Valley, he added.