India to Establish Two Cross-Border Rail Links To Bhutan

India and Bhutan have agreed to establish two cross-border railway projects with a total investment of Rs 4,033 crore, marking a significant milestone in regional connectivity and bilateral cooperation. The projects will connect Kokrajhar in Assam to Gelephu in Bhutan and Banarhat in West Bengal to Samtse in Bhutan.

Addressing a joint press conference, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the initiative will connect two key Bhutanese towns, Gelephu and Samtse, with India’s railway network. He explained that the 69-km Kokrajhar–Gelephu line will be built at an estimated cost of Rs 3,456 crore, while the 20-km Banarhat–Samtse line will cost Rs 577 crore. The minister confirmed that the entire investment will be borne by India.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri noted that these will be the first-ever rail connectivity projects between India and Bhutan, following a Memorandum of Understanding signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bhutan last year. He emphasised that the projects highlight the exceptional trust and mutual respect underpinning India–Bhutan relations, rooted in cultural and civilisational ties, people-to-people bonds, and shared developmental and security interests.

Misri also underlined that India remains Bhutan’s largest trading partner and developmental assistance provider, playing a pivotal role in the kingdom’s modernisation, particularly in infrastructure and economic growth.

The two new railway links are expected to significantly strengthen connectivity, boost trade, and deepen bilateral cooperation between India and Bhutan.