As part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of strengthening bilateral relations and enhancing connectivity with neighboring countries, Indian Railways is actively advancing the 'Act East Policy' and 'Neighborhood First Policy.' To make the Prime Minister's dream a reality, Indian Railways is set to link Assam's Kokrajhar with a neighboring country by rail.
This new rail project, aimed at strengthening India-Bhutan relations and improving connectivity, was announced by India's Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw at the "Advantage Assam 2.0" summit in Guwahati on February 25. The proposed rail line will stretch over 69.04 kilometers from Kokrajhar in Assam to Gelephu in Bhutan. The estimated cost for this project is Rs 3,500 crore, and it will include the construction of six new stations. The stations along the route will be Balajan, Garubhasa, Runikhata, Shantipur, Dadgiri, and Gelephu.
In addition, the project will feature two modern bridges, 29 major bridges, 65 minor bridges, one road overbridge, 39 road underbridges, and two viaducts of 11 meters in length. This rail link aims to further strengthen bilateral ties between India and Bhutan while boosting trade, tourism, and cultural exchanges between the two nations. This will also elevate Bhutan's transportation infrastructure, bringing it to new heights. Furthermore, the rail project is expected to transform the region into a trade and transit hub. However, there is no confirmed information yet regarding the start date of train services.