India and Bhutan to Build First Cross-Border Railway Links

By deepika lama

NEW DELHI, India

In a major step to boost connectivity and economic ties, India and Bhutan have officially agreed to build their first-ever cross-border railway links. The announcement was made by Indian officials on Monday, confirming a plan that will connect the two neighboring nations by rail for the first time in history.

The project will see the construction of two new railway lines. The first and longer link will run about 69 kilometers from Kokrajhar in India’s Assam state to Gelephu in Bhutan. A second, 20-kilometer line will connect Banarhat in West Bengal, India, to Samtse in Bhutan .

Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri announced that these are the first rail connectivity projects between the two countries . The total length of the new railway network will be approximately 90 kilometers, with an estimated cost of ₹4,033 crore (about $454 million) .

A Strategic and Economic Partnership

The railway project is a landmark moment for the relationship between India and Bhutan. The two countries share a unique bond characterized by trust and close people-to-people ties . India is Bhutan’s largest trading partner, and most of Bhutan’s imports and exports travel through Indian ports .

Indian Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasized the project’s importance, stating that “seamless rail connectivity” is vital for the Bhutanese economy to grow and for its people to have better access to global trade networks . He highlighted that by building just 70-90 kilometers of new track, Bhutan will gain direct access to India’s vast 150,000-kilometer railway network, creating a powerful “network effect” .

The new links are expected to dramatically reduce travel and transport times. “The entire area will get connected. And lots of goods movement, which takes days today, will start happening in a few hours,” Minister Vaishnaw told reporters .

Supporting Bhutan’s Development Vision

The railway is central to Bhutan’s plans for its future economic development. The town of Gelephu is being developed by Bhutan into a special “mindfulness city” intended to be an economic and investment hub . Foreign Secretary Misri described it as “an economic hub connecting Bhutan with South Asia and Southeast Asia” .

This infrastructure project is part of a broader support package from India. The Indian government has committed ₹10,000 crore to assist Bhutan during its 13th Five-Year Plan period (2024-2029), which covers various development projects and grants .

Project Details and Timeline

The formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the railway links was signed during the visit of Bhutanese Foreign Secretary Aum Pema Choden to New Delhi . The agreement builds upon an initial MoU that was signed during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bhutan last year .

The construction period for the railway projects is expected to be four years . The plans are extensive and include building six stations, 29 major bridges, 65 minor bridges, and 39 underpasses . The railway lines will be electric and designed to be as environmentally friendly as possible .

For the landlocked Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, which is famously known for prioritizing “Gross National Happiness” over economic growth, these new rail links represent a careful balancing act. They promise to open new avenues for trade and regional integration while aiming to preserve the nation’s unique culture and environment .