India Launches First-Ever Railway Links To Bhutan At Rs 4,033 Crore: Key Details

[anuradha]

India will fund and build Bhutan’s first-ever international rail links, a move set to transform connectivity and deepen strategic ties with the Himalayan nation. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announced the projects on Monday.

India To Fund First Bhutan Rail Links: Two cross-border lines have been approved: Kokrajhar (Assam)–Gelephu (Bhutan) covering 69 km at an estimated cost of Rs 3,456 crore, and Banarhat (West Bengal)–Samtse (Bhutan) spanning 20 km at Rs 577 crore, as per a report on India Today. Fully financed by India, the projects are expected to be completed within four and three years, respectively. Originally conceived in the early 2000s, the initiative gathered pace after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2024 Bhutan visit, during which an MoU was signed to finalize the routes. A 2005 foundational agreement between both countries had identified five potential corridors, including Hasimara–Phuentsholing and Pathsala–Nanglam. Read the full article on https://news.abplive.com/news/world/...a-modi-1803357

[tanjuman]

India has launched its first-ever railway links to Bhutan, a major step costing Rs 4,033 crore.

The project involves two cross-border lines: one connecting Kokrajhar (Assam) to Gelephu (Bhutan), and another linking Banarhat (West Bengal) to Samtse (Bhutan).

This initiative, fully funded by India, is a huge boost for Bhutan, which currently has no rail network. The links will transform trade, enhance economic growth, and significantly strengthen the long-standing ties between the two nations, especially supporting Bhutan's development of Gelephu as a "Mindfulness City."

[Manisha Kundal]

India’s decision to fully fund Bhutan’s first-ever international rail links is a landmark step in strengthening regional connectivity and deepening bilateral ties. The Kokrajhar–Gelephu and Banarhat–Samtse projects not only enhance trade and mobility but also hold immense potential for tourism, economic growth, and cultural exchange between the two neighbours. This initiative reflects India’s commitment to supporting Bhutan’s development while reinforcing strategic cooperation in the Himalayan region. By reviving ideas first proposed in the early 2000s and advancing them after the 2024 MoU, both countries are setting the stage for long-term integration, prosperity, and shared progress in South Asia.