India to build two cross-border rail links with Bhutan

India on Monday announced plans to construct two cross-border railway projects with Bhutan.

The initiative, worth over Rs 4,000 crore, marks the first such rail connectivity between the two countries and aims to enhance trade and economic cooperation.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri shared details of the projects.

The rail links will connect Kokrajhar in Assam with Gelephu in Bhutan, and Banarhat in West Bengal with Samtse in Bhutan. Together, the projects will cover 89 km of railway lines and are expected to be completed within four years.

Misri said the agreement for the projects was signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bhutan last year. “India and Bhutan share a relationship of exceptional trust, mutual respect, and understanding,” he said. “This is a relationship that is rooted in cultural and civilizational ties, extensive people-to-people relations, and our shared developmental and security interests.”

Vaishnaw said the projects will connect to the Indian Railways network at Kokrajhar and Banarhat. The total investment is estimated at Rs 4,033 crore.

He emphasised the importance of these links for Bhutan. “As most of the EXIM trade of Bhutan is done through Indian ports, therefore, it becomes very important to have a good seamless rail connectivity for the Bhutanese economy to grow, and for the people to have better ways of access to the global network,” he said.

The 69-km Kokrajhar–Gelephu line will cost Rs 3,456 crore and take four years to complete. It will include six stations, two important bridges, two viaducts, 29 major bridges, 65 minor bridges, two goodsheds, one road-over-bridge, and 39 road-under-bridges. Of the total length, 2.39 km will fall within Bhutan.

The second project, Banarhat–Samtse, will be 20 km long with two stations. It will cost Rs 577 crore and is expected to be completed in three years.

Misri highlighted India’s ongoing role in Bhutan’s development. “For the 13th five-year plan of Bhutan, which runs from 2024 to 2029, the government of India has committed a support of Rs 10,000 crore, which covers project-tied assistance, high-impact community development projects, the economic stimulus programme, and a programme grant,” he said. “And this quantum constitutes a 100 per cent increase over the 12th five-year plan figures.”

He added that India has been Bhutan’s largest developmental partner, contributing significantly to its modernisation and infrastructure growth.