India and Bhutan announce first-ever railway links: How this cross-border railway project goes beyond connectivity

A historic plan to build rail connectivity between India and Bhutan has been unveiled by the central government on 29th September. It will be the first cross-border railway project in Bhutan. It is a part of the ambitious “Make in India” initiative. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri revealed plans to build new railway linkages that will cost Rs 4,033 crore. It will connect the industrial city of Samtse and Gelephu, a centre for mindfulness. The Indian Railways network would be linked to both lines at Banarhat in West Bengal and Kokrajhar in Assam. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri declared that these two projects are a part of the first batch of rail connection projects between the nations. “There is a major new initiative between India and Bhutan on the establishment of rail connectivity between our two countries,” he added. A new beginning between two significant partners A formal agreement was signed during the Bhutanese Foreign Secretary’s visit to New Delhi and the Memorandum of Understanding for these projects was reached amid Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bhutan in March of the last year. “The total length is about 90 kilometres to be precise and 89 kilometres of railway network will be created,” informed Vaishnaw. He outlined, “India is the largest trading partner of Bhutan and most of the exempt trade of Bhutan is done through Indian ports. Therefore, it becomes very important to have a good seamless rail connectivity for the Bhutanese economy to grow and for the people to have better access to the global network. That’s why this entire project has been undertaken.” Bhutan would have access to 1,50,000 kilometres of the Indian railway network owing to the rail linkages. The Banarhat-Samtse line would be built over a three-year period while the Kokrajhar-Gelephu rail link would be developed over the following four years. The railway lines would be built to accommodate electrified Vande Bharat trains. Promised & delivered – India & Bhutan to establish two cross-border rail links (89 km | ₹4,033 Cr) Kokrajhar–Gelephu (69 km) Banarhat–Samtse (20 km) This milestone will unlock new economic opportunities, strengthen connectivity, and deepen India–Bhutan ties. pic.twitter.com/J5fX60NS9k— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) September 29, 2025 The Indian government will cover the cost of the railway lines and all train coaches as well as technology would be produced domestically. There will be six stations, two viaducts, 29 major bridges, 65 minor bridges, two sheds, one flyover and 39 underpasses along the roughly 69 kilometer Kokrajhar-Gelephu line with Rs 3456 crore. Two stations, 25 bridges, one major flyover, 24 minor flyovers and 37 underpasses will all be built as part of the 20 kilometer Banarhat-Samtse line at the cost of Rs 577 crore. Misri conveyed, “As you are all aware, India and Bhutan share a relationship of exceptional trust, mutual respect and understanding. This is a relationship that is rooted in cultural and civilizational ties, extensive people-to-people relations, and our shared developmental and security interests. These ties are reflected in very close contact at the highest levels.” He reported, “These links that are being worked on will be critical for enhancing cargo and passenger movement. So, it is in the context of this very special relationship that the two governments have agreed to establish two cross-border rail links between Banarhat and Samtse and Kokrajhar and Gelephu. This will be the first set of rail connectivity projects with Bhutan.” According to Misri, the railway ministry will finance the Indian portions of the two linkages while New Delhi will provide Rs 10,000 crore for Bhutan’s 13th five-year plan for 2024-2029 to build the sections inside Bhutanese territory. The sections that lie on the Bhutanese side of both lines are little longer than two kilometres. Image via @AshwiniVaishnaw/X The work on both projects, including the purchase of land will commence shortly. The two nations will work out security arrangements while the Land Ports Authority of India builds a number of new integrated check posts (ICPs) along the Bhutanese border. “India and Bhutan share a relationship of exceptional trust, mutual respect and understanding. This is a relationship that is rooted in cultural and civilizational ties, extensive people-to-people relations and our shared developmental and security interests,” Misri further pointed out. Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the King of Bhutan, established Gelephu as the location of an independent economic centre with administrative, legislative and judicial authority. The Indian government has expressed support for the flagship project which aims to establish broad commercial and other ties between Bhutan and the Indian subcontinent. Bhutan will be able to access India’s vast railway network owing to the two new train links which will also m