India-Bhutan Rail Link: India on Monday announced plans to construct the first two cross-border railway links with Bhutan at an estimated cost of Rs 4,033 crore. Two projects, namely the Kokrajhar-Gelephu new line and the Banarhat-Samtse new line, have been cleared.

Connecting Assam to Bhutan

The Kokrajhar-Gelephu line, worth Rs 3,456 crore, will link Assam’s Kokrajhar and Chirang districts with Bhutan ’s Sarpang region. The 70-km stretch will feature six stations and nearly 100 bridges. Officials said the link will open new avenues for economic activity, improve goods and passenger movement. According to officials, the line will also support Bhutan’s plans to develop Gelephu as a “mindfulness city”.

West Bengal to Bhutan line

The Banarhat-Samtse line, valued at Rs 577 crore, will

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