In a landmark move, India and Bhutan have formalised plans for their first-ever cross-border railway projects. The two proposed lines — Kokrajhar (Assam) to Gelephu (Bhutan) (69 km) and Banarhat (West Bengal) to Samtse (Bhutan) (20 km) — will cost ₹3,456 crore and ₹577 crore, respectively, summing to ₹4,033 crore in investment.
Railway officials explained that the Kokrajhar–Gelephu link will join Assam’s Kokrajhar and Bhutan’s Sarpang region, while the Banarhat–Samtse line will connect West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri district to Bhutan’s Samtse — an area being developed by Bhutan as an industrial hub.
Foreign affairs representatives emphasized the strategic importance of this connectivity, describing it as a symbol of India’s commitment to Bhutan’s development and regional integration. These lines will facilitate movement of goods and people, enhance bilateral trade, and strengthen cultural and economic ties.
Importantly, the Indian government has already classified the 69 km line as a Special Railway Project (SRP), enabling accelerated land acquisition, approval, and execution processes. Once operational, these links will mark Bhutan’s first railway connectivity and are seen as a boost to India’s “Act East” policy, regional infrastructure integration, and supply chain linkages across the eastern Himalayas.