The Centre on Monday unveiled two ambitious cross-border railway projects that will, for the first time, link Bhutan with India's railway grid. The 69-km Kokrajhar (Assam)-Gelephu (Bhutan) line and the 20-km Banarhat (West Bengal)-Samtse (Bhutan) link will cost Rs 3,456 crore and Rs 577 crore respectively.
The announcement was made jointly by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. Later, Railway Board Chairman Satish Kumar and Bhutanese Foreign Secretary Aum Pema Choden signed the formal MoU, cementing an agreement nearly two decades in the making.
For Bhutan, which has no railway of its own, these will mark the nation's first-ever train links - projects that could reshape connectivity and trade in the eastern Himalayas at a time when China's presence in the region is steadily growing.
How did it start?
The origins of the plan go back to January 25, 2005, when India and Bhutan signed a Memorandum of Understanding for five possible railway connections. The agreement was signed by then Minister of State for Railways Naranbhai J. Rathwa and Bhutan's Foreign Minister Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk, who later became Prime Minister.
The five routes initially proposed were:
- Hasimara (WB)-Phuentsholing with a spur to Pasakha (18 km)
- Kokrajhar (Assam)-Gelephu (69 km)
- Pathsala (Assam)-Nanglam (40 km)
- Rangia (Assam)-Samdrupjongkhar via Darranga (60 km)
- Banarhat (WB)-Samtse (20 km)
Feasibility studies were carried out by RITES in 2008, followed by detailed project reports from Northeast Frontier Railway. Yet, progress stalled until Prime Minister Narendra Modi's March 2024 visit to Bhutan, where the two sides finally agreed to move ahead with the Kokrajhar-Gelephu and Banarhat-Samtse lines.
What does the project entail?
The Kokrajhar-Gelephu rail line will connect Bhutan's Sarpang district with Assam's Kokrajhar and Chirang districts. Along the route, six stations are planned - Balagaon, Garubhasa, Runikhata, Shantipur, Dadgiri and Gelephu. The project will feature two major bridges, two viaducts, 29 large bridges, 65 small bridges, a goods shed, one overpass and 39 underpasses. Construction is expected to take four years.
The Banarhat-Samtse line, spanning 20 km, will connect Bhutan's Samtse district with West Bengal's Jalpaiguri. It will include two stations - Ambari and Samtse - along with one major bridge, 24 smaller bridges, an overpass and 37 underpasses. This project is projected to be completed within three years.
According to the DPR, work is set to begin in FY 2025-26, although timelines will hinge on how quickly land acquisition can be carried out. To fast-track implementation, the Kokrajhar-Gelephu line has already been classified as a "Special Railway Project."
Why Gelephu and Samtse?
Both Gelephu and Samtse are among Bhutan's most vital trade gateways. Located in the southern plains, Gelephu is being developed into the ambitious Mindfulness City, a 2,600 sq km smart city project envisioned by King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. Launched in December 2023, the city aims to blend Bhutan's spiritual ethos with cutting-edge global commerce, innovation and sustainability.
Samtse, on the other hand, is fast emerging as Bhutan's industrial hub. With industries producing dolomite, ferro-silicon, quartzite and stone chips, the town is expected to benefit heavily from direct rail connectivity, which will support both freight and passenger traffic.
What will it achieve?
India is already Bhutan's largest trading partner, accounting for nearly 80% of its imports and exports. Under the 2016 bilateral trade agreement, Bhutan enjoys duty-free transit for goods moving through India to third countries.
By physically linking the two economies, the new railways are expected to boost commerce, expand people-to-people ties, and strengthen India's presence in the eastern Himalayas amid growing Chinese influence.
For Bhutan, these two projects are not just about connectivity - they represent a strategic leap forward, promising to integrate the country's economy more deeply with the region while opening new opportunities for growth and cooperation.
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