India Unveils INR 4,033 Crore Railway Projects to Connect Bhutan
India has announced two significant railway projects to connect Bhutan with its extensive rail network. The projects, totaling INR 4,033 crore, will link the Bhutanese cities of Gelephu and Samtse with the Indian states of West Bengal and Assam.
The two rail links will commence from the Indian Railways network at Kokrajhar and Banarhat. The 69-km Kokrajhar-Gelephu line, costing about INR 3,456 crore, will connect to Gelephu, a city in Bhutan being developed as a 'mindfulness city'. Meanwhile, the 20-km Banarhat-Samtse line, estimated at INR 577 crore, will connect to Samtse, an industrial city in Bhutan.
Both projects, with a combined length of about 90 kilometers, are expected to benefit the people of Bhutan significantly. They will reduce the transportation time of goods from days to just a few hours, facilitating smoother trade and economic growth.
The Minister of Indian Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw, announced these projects, which are part of India's ongoing efforts to strengthen regional connections. Once completed, these rail links will integrate Bhutan into India's vast 70,000-kilometre rail network, opening up new opportunities for both countries.
