In a major development, Ministry of Railways has announced two major cross-border railway projects to connect India and Bhutan .The project will establish direct links between Bhutan’s emerging industrial hubs Gelephu and Samtse and Assam’s Kokrajhar and Banarhat, with a combined investment of Rs 4,033 crore.
The projects will be entirely funded by India and aim to facilitate the smooth movement of goods and passengers, boost bilateral trade, and generate employment opportunities.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, along with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, confirmed that construction will begin shortly. The Kokrajhar–Gelephu project has a completion timeline of four years, while the Banarhat–Samtse line is expected to be ready within three years.
Together, the two lines will add 89 km of fully electrified track to the network, enabling the operation of modern domestically manufactured trains for both freight and passenger use. The Ministry has emphasized that environmental considerations have been built into the planning process.
Kokrajhar–Gelephu Rail Line
- Length: 69 km
- Cost: Rs 3,456 crore
- Alignment: 66.66 km in India, 2.39 km in Bhutan
Banarhat–Samtse Rail Line
- Length: 20 km
- Cost: Rs 577 crore
- Alignment: 17.42 km in India, 2.13 km in Bhutan
The Indian portion of both projects will be undertaken as Special Railway Projects under the Ministry of Railways, while the Bhutanese side will receive financial assistance from India through the Ministry of External Affairs under Bhutan’s 13th Five-Year Plan.
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