Good News: In A First, Railways To Reach Bhutan's Gelefu Via Assam. Details Here

New Delhi: In what could be seen as a major boost for India’s strategic move, the Railways has completed the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the first railway link between India and Bhutan. According to reports, the Indian Railway’s have completed the DPR to build the first train link towards land-locked Himalayan nation. Once completed, the railway link will boost tourism, people-to-people connect between the two nations and also put India ahead strategically.  

What we know about India’s proposed railway link to Bhutan?

• India and Bhutan is expected to get its first railway link as the DPR has been completed.
• According to reports, the railway link will be built from Assam’s Kokrajhar, part of Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR).
• The proposed railway line final location survey has been completed while authorities are awaiting the DPR report.
• The proposed railway line between India and Bhutan will be nearly 70 kms long (69.04 km). It will start from Assam’s Kokrajhar station to Bhutan’s Gelephu.
• The estimated cost for the project will be around Rs 3,500 crore.
• The railway line between Assam and Bhutan will have six stations including Balajan, Garubhasa, Runikhata, Shantipur, Dadgiri and Gelephu.
• The railway track will feature two important bridges, 29  major bridges, 65 minor bridges, one road over-bridge, 39 road under-bridges and two viaducts of 11-metre length.
• Speaking about the proposed railway link, a spokesperson said, "The final location survey has been successfully completed and the DPR has been submitted for further approval and necessary directives.”
• "The proposed railway line will significantly strengthen India-Bhutan relations by enhancing trade, tourism and cultural exchanges between the two nations. It will also improve connectivity, providing Bhutan with its first-ever railway link, facilitating seamless transportation," he added.

India currently runs train services to two international regions including Nepal and Bangladesh. However, due to the political instability in Bangladesh, train services to the country has been temporarily discontinued.

Apart from Nepal and Bangladesh, there are two other train services which were active between India and Pakistan till 2022. One is the Attari-Wagah border crossing and the other is Munabao-Khokhrapar border crossing. However, after India snapped ties with Islamabad saying terror and talks cannot go together, the services have been temporarily discontinued.