New Delhi, Sept 29: India on Monday announced plans to construct two cross-border railway links with Bhutan at a cost of over Rs 4,033 crore, marking the first railway connectivity projects with the Himalayan nation to boost trade and economic engagement.
The new rail projects will connect Bhutanese cities Gelephu and Samtse with Kokrajhar in Assam and Banarhat in West Bengal, respectively. The 89-km network is expected to be completed within the next four years, officials said.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri shared details of the projects, highlighting six stations, two viaducts, 29 major bridges, 65 minor bridges, two goodsheds, one ROB, and 39 RUBs on the Kokrajhar–Gelephu line. This 69-km line will cost Rs 3,456 crore, with 2.39 km on Bhutanese territory. The Banarhat–Samtse line will span 20 km, feature two stations, and cost Rs 577 crore.
Vaishnaw emphasized that enhanced rail connectivity is vital as most of Bhutan’s EXIM trade flows through Indian ports, facilitating smoother economic access and growth.
Misri noted India’s longstanding developmental support to Bhutan, committing Rs 10,000 crore for Bhutan’s 13th Five-Year Plan (2024–2029), doubling the assistance provided during the previous plan. “India and Bhutan share exceptional trust, mutual respect, and understanding rooted in cultural ties, people-to-people relations, and shared developmental and security interests,” he said.
The rail link agreements were signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bhutan last year, amid concerns over China’s growing strategic influence in the region. (Agencies)
