In a historic move to deepen economic ties with Bhutan, India on Monday announced plans to construct two cross-border railway links with the Himalayan nation at a cost of over ₹4,000 crore. These will be Bhutan’s first-ever railway connectivity projects with India.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri jointly unveiled the details of the projects, which will link Gelephu in Bhutan to Kokrajhar in Assam, and Samtse to Banarhat in West Bengal. Together, the projects will involve laying 89 kilometers of railway lines, with completion targeted within four years.
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“India and Bhutan share a relationship of exceptional trust, mutual respect, and understanding,” Misri said at the media briefing, underscoring the strategic and cultural significance of the initiative.
The new links are expected to boost bilateral trade, ease cross-border movement, and strengthen people-to-people ties, further cementing India’s role as Bhutan’s key development partner.
