New rail tracks will connect Bhutan with New Delhi’s 93,000 mile network
India will build two railway lines connecting it with the Himalayan nation of Bhutan, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said in a press briefing on Monday, marking the first rail connectivity projects between the two countries.
The two lines, totaling some 89 kilometres of track, will cost New Delhi some $474 million and will link cities in Bhutan with the Indian states of Assam and West Bengal. India is Bhutan’s top trading partner, accounting for nearly 80% of the country’s total trade.
The MoU for these projects was signed in March 2024, during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bhutan, and a formal agreement was subsequently finalized during the Bhutanese foreign secretary’s visit to New Delhi on Monday.
“These projects are part of our broader efforts to enhance connectivity between the two countries and will strengthen economic and people-to-people linkages,” Misri said.
India’s Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the rail links would give Bhutan access to India’s famous 93,205 mile-long railway network. The minister added that since most of Bhutan’s trade was conducted through Indian ports, it was crucial to have seamless rail connectivity in order to grow the Bhutanese economy and to provide better access to the global network.
Promised & delivered – India & Bhutan to establish two cross-border rail links (89 km | ₹4,033 Cr) 🇮🇳🇧🇹 🛤️ Kokrajhar–Gelephu (69 km) 🛤️ Banarhat–Samtse (20 km)
✅ This milestone will unlock new economic opportunities, strengthen connectivity, and deepen India–Bhutan ties. pic.twitter.com/J5fX60NS9k
The new railway lines will be built to accommodate high-quality, modern trains and are expected to be ready in 3 to 4 years, officials said.
“This will provide a lot of economic benefits to the people, in terms of tourism, industrial growth, people-to-people movement, and goods movement,” Vaishnaw added.
