(Image source from: Facebook.com/RailMinIndia)
In a significant update, the nations of India and Bhutan have decided to start two railway projects that cross their borders, connecting Banarhat to Samtse in Bhutan and Kokrajhar to Gelephu. This announcement was made by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Monday. The railway lines will link to Banarhat in West Bengal and Kokrajhar in Assam. “This marks our first railway link projects with Bhutan. The agreement for this was signed when the Prime Minister visited Bhutan last year," Misri stated during a special press conference. A formal agreement will be signed later today in New Delhi during the visit of Bhutan’s Foreign Secretary to India. This will be recognized as the first railway projects connecting India and Bhutan.
“India and Bhutan enjoy a relationship built on strong trust, respect, and understanding. It is a partnership based on shared cultural and historical connections, strong people-to-people links, and common goals in development and security. These connections are evident in the frequent interactions between top leaders," Misri added. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw spoke at the special briefing, mentioning that the projects will link two key cities in Bhutan. “One is Gelephu, which is being developed as a city focused on mindfulness. The other is Samtse, recognized as an industrial city," he explained. Samtse will connect to Banarhat in West Bengal and Gelephu will link to Kokrajhar in Assam. “These two projects will begin from the existing Indian railway networks in Kokrajhar and Banarhat. The expected investment for now is around Rs 4,033 crore, and a railway track of approximately 90 km will be constructed," Vaishnaw noted.
The minister emphasized that India is Bhutan's largest trading partner, making it essential to establish smooth railway connections for the growth of the “botanist economy" and to help their citizens access the global network more effectively. Vaishnaw also mentioned that the timeline for the construction of this project is four years, which will include six stations, two key bridges, two viaducts, 29 large bridges, 65 smaller bridges, one flyover, and 39 underpasses. “By building only about 70 km, you essentially benefit from a railway network of 1,50,000 km. This is the benefit gained from the network effect," he said.
On another note, Foreign Secretary Misri mentioned that the Indian government has pledged Rs 10,000 crores to support Bhutan’s 13th Five-Year Plan, which includes project-specific assistance, impactful community development initiatives, an economic boost plan, and a program grant.
