India and Bhutan Grant Preliminary Cross-Boundary Railway

1. Project Acceptance and Relevance:

• India and Bhutan have ratified their very first cross-border railways .
• Kokrajhar-Gelephu and Banarhat-Samtse lines are two of them.
• Attempts to enhance economical, strategic, and cultural collaboration among the neighboring countries.

2. Project Specifications:

• KokrajharGelephu Line: 70km long, 70km, 3456 crore investment.
  • Relates the Kokrajhar district of Assam with the Gelephu in the Sarpang district of Bhutan.
  • Has six stations and almost 100 bridges.
  • Favors Gelephu to become a Mindfulness City.
• Banarhat Samtse Line: 20 km long, 577 crores investment.
  • Connections Banarhat in West Bengal with Samtse in Bhutan.
  • Has two stations, and about 25 bridges.
  • Increases the industrialization of Samtse.

3. Economic and Strategic Advantages:

• Total investment: ₹4,033 crore
• Minimizes transportation expenses and transit .
• Brings Bhutan into the Indian ports and world trade networks .
• Enhances India as a prime partner in development of Bhutan .
• Resists exogenous strategic forces in South Asia.

4. Implementation and Alignment:

• Kokrajhar-Gelephu line was defined as a Special Railway Project to be completed faster.
• Conforms with the Act East Policy of India .
• Improves the integration and connectivity of regions .
• Favours people-to-people contacts and development of border areas .