India, Bhutan to get first rail links via Assam, Bengal
India and Bhutan have agreed on a major railway project worth ₹4,033 crore to link Assam’s Kokrajhar with Bhutan’s Gelephu, and India’s Banarhat with Bhutan’s Samtse. The move marks the first direct rail connectivity between the two nations.
Details and Strategic Goal
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri confirmed the new links will integrate Bhutan into India’s 150,000 km rail network by building about 90 km of new track. The Kokrajhar–Gelephu line is expected to be about 70 km, while the Banarhat–Samtse stretch is shorter. The entire project will be funded by the Indian government.
Special Railway Project Status
To expedite work, the Kokrajhar–Gelephu section has been declared a Special Railway Project under Indian law, which speeds up land acquisition and construction processes. This status underscores the project’s strategic and diplomatic importance.
Impacts on Trade, Connectivity, Development
Officials say the rail links will deepen trade, tourism, connectivity and people-to-people ties. For Bhutan, this would open a new corridor for exports and imports, while boosting development in India’s northeast and neighbouring border areas. The project is also aligned with India’s “Act East” policy and its vision of regional integration.
