India Launches Its First-Ever Railway Line to Bhutan, Project Cost Rs 4,033 Crore

India has announced its first-ever railway lines to Bhutan, aiming to strengthen trade, tourism, and connectivity between the two countries. The Kokrajhar–Gelephu and Banarhat–Samtse lines, near the strategic Chicken’s Neck, will integrate Bhutan with India’s rail network.

Following Nepal, India is now extending its railway network into Bhutan, a plan that was conceived 20 years ago is finally coming to fruition. On Monday, the Centre announced the launch of these two railway lines, combining the Himalayan nation into India’s 70,000-kilometre rail network.

The two railway lines, spanning 69 km and 20 km, will connect Bhutan with the bordering states of Assam and West Bengal. The 69-km Kokrajhar (Assam)–Gelephu (Bhutan) line will cost Rs 3,456 crore, while the 20-km Banarhat (West Bengal)–Samtse (Bhutan) line will cost Rs 577 crore.

The Kokrajhar–Gelephu line is expected to be completed in four years, and the Banarhat–Samtse line in three years. These lines are strategically important as the Siliguri Corridor lies about 70 km from Banarhat and 220 km from Kokrajhar, near the India-China-Bhutan trijunction where the 2017 Doklam border clashes occurred.