India will construct two railway lines connecting it to Bhutan under a $454 million project set for completion within four years. The 69-kilometer route will link Kokrajhar in northeastern India to Gelephu near the Bhutanese border, while a 20-kilometer line will connect Samtse in northwestern Bhutan to Banarhat in eastern India. Indian officials said the electric railways will support economic development in the landlocked Himalayan nation of 800,000 people.
Bhutan plans to transform Gelephu into an economic zone attracting foreign investment and tourism, with the new rail infrastructure serving as a vital component of this strategy. The project aims to reduce goods transportation time from days to hours and strengthen connections between Bhutan and South and Southeast Asian markets. Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri emphasized his country's role in modernizing Bhutan's economy, noting the railways will create a regional economic hub. Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the lines will be designed with environmental considerations as a priority.
Bhutan plans to transform Gelephu into an economic zone attracting foreign investment and tourism, with the new rail infrastructure serving as a vital component of this strategy. The project aims to reduce goods transportation time from days to hours and strengthen connections between Bhutan and South and Southeast Asian markets. Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri emphasized his country's role in modernizing Bhutan's economy, noting the railways will create a regional economic hub. Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the lines will be designed with environmental considerations as a priority.
