India Announces 2 Cross-Border Rail Links With Bhutan

India and Bhutan have green-lit their first-ever cross-border railway connections under a project costing about ₹4,033 crore, with two lines approved: one linking Kokrajhar in Assam to Gelephu in Bhutan (worth ~₹3,456 crore), and another connecting Banarhat in West Bengal to Samtse in Bhutan (worth ~₹577 crore). The Kokrajhar-Gelephu stretch is about 70 km, with six stations and numerous bridges; the Banarhat-Samtse line will be shorter (~20 km), with two stations and 25 bridges. The project aims to boost trade, tourism, economic integration, and strengthen Bhutan’s connectivity by giving it its first direct railway links to the Indian rail network.
*This news was published by NDTV on September 30, 2025.*

 

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