India’s First Cross-Border Rail Links with Bhutan | 30 Sep 2025

Source: TH

India has announced the first-ever railway links with Bhutan, namely the Kokrajhar–Gelephu (Assam) and Banarhat–Samtse (West Bengal) lines, totaling 89 km, marking a milestone in bilateral connectivity and regional integration.

• Gelephu and Samtse: Gelephu and Samtse are key export-import hubs in Bhutan along the 700-km India-Bhutan border. Gelephu is being developed as "Mindfulness City,". 
  • Samtse is being developed as an industrial town by the Government of Bhutan. Enhancing connectivity between these towns and India will significantly boost India-Bhutan trade.
• Strategic Importance: These railway links reinforce India’s Neighbourhood First Policy,  counters China’s growing influence in South Asia, and deepens trust-based partnership.
  • For Bhutan, seamless rail connectivity to India provides access to 1.5 lakh km of the Indian Railways network. 
  • Since India is Bhutan’s largest trading partner, handling 80% of its total trade, this link will enhance Bhutan’s access to global markets via Indian ports while also boosting tourism, industrial growth, people-to-people ties, and smooth movement of goods.
• India’s Developmental Assistance to Bhutan: India pledged Rs 10,000 crore for Bhutan’s 13th Five-Year Plan (2024–2029) (double of the 12th Plan).
  • An integrated check post was inaugurated at Darranga, Assam, to facilitate the movement of third-country nationals, including those from Bhutan. Bhutan is also set to benefit from the Jogighopha Inland Waterways Transport Terminal.
  • The two nations have collaborated on five major hydropower projects — Chukha, Tala, Mangdechhu, Kurichhu, and the recently completed Punatsangchhu II.