India announced the launch of two new cross-border rail links with Bhutan, marking the first-ever railway projects between the two countries. The 89-km links will connect Kokrajhar to Gelephu in Assam and Banarhat to Samtse in West Bengal at a total cost of ₹4,033 crore.
The projects were announced by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri at a press conference. He said the Memorandum of Understanding for these links was signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bhutan last year. A formal agreement is scheduled to be signed later today during the Bhutanese Foreign Secretary’s visit to New Delhi.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted the importance of the initiative, stating, “India is the largest trading partner of Bhutan. Most of the EXIM trade of Bhutan is through Indian ports, therefore, it becomes very important to have seamless rail connectivity for the Bhutanese economy to grow, and for the Bhutanese people to have better access to the global network.”
The Minister said the new links will connect Bhutan to 1,50,000 km of Indian railways. The Kokrajhar-Gelephu link, to be completed in four years, will feature six stations, two viaducts, 29 major bridges, 65 minor bridges, two goods sheds, one flyover, and 39 underpasses.
The Banarhat-Samtse line, to be built in three years at a cost of ₹577 crore, will include two stations, one major flyover, 24 minor flyovers, and 37 underpasses.
Officials said the projects are expected to strengthen trade, connectivity, and people-to-people ties between India and Bhutan while boosting Bhutan’s access to global markets.
Also read: Viksit Workforce for a Viksit Bharat
Do Follow: The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News LinkedIn Account | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Facebook | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Youtube | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Twitter |The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Whatsapp Channel | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Instagram
About us:
The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News is a premier platform dedicated to delivering latest news, updates, and insights from the tech industry. With its strong foundation of intellectual property and thought leadership, the platform is well-positioned to stay ahead of the curve and lead conversations about how technology shapes our world. From its early days as CIO News to its rebranding as The Mainstream on November 28, 2024, it has been expanding its global reach, targeting key markets in the Middle East & Africa, ASEAN, the USA, and the UK. The Mainstream is a vision to put technology at the center of every conversation, inspiring professionals and organizations to embrace the future of tech.
