In a landmark announcement made on Monday, September 29, 2025, India revealed its commitment to establishing two crucial new rail connections with neighboring Bhutan. These ambitious projects, spanning a total of 89 kilometers, will link Kokrajhar in India’s Assam state to Gelephu in Bhutan, and Banarhat in West Bengal, India, to Samtse in Bhutan. The estimated cost for this significant infrastructure development is ₹4,033 crore.
These initiatives represent the inaugural phase of rail connectivity projects between India and Bhutan. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri highlighted at a press conference that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for these ventures was initially signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bhutan last year. A formal agreement is anticipated to be inked on September 29, coinciding with the Bhutanese Foreign Secretary’s visit to New Delhi.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw underscored the strategic importance of these links, stating, “India is Bhutan’s largest trading partner. A substantial portion of Bhutan’s import and export trade currently transits through Indian ports. Therefore, establishing seamless rail connectivity is absolutely vital for the Bhutanese economy to flourish and for its people to gain enhanced access to the global network.”
Minister Vaishnaw further elaborated that these 89-kilometer rail lines will grant Bhutan unprecedented access to India’s extensive 150,000-kilometer railway system. The Kokrajhar-Gelephu route is slated for completion over the next four years, while the Banarhat-Samtse link is projected to be finalized within three years.
The Kokrajhar-Gelephu corridor will feature six stations, two impressive viaducts, 29 major bridges, 65 minor bridges, two goods sheds, one flyover, and 39 underpasses. This comprehensive development highlights the scale of the undertaking.
Meanwhile, the Banarhat-Samtse connection, budgeted at ₹577 crore, will include two stations, one major flyover, 24 minor flyovers, and 37 underpasses, further strengthening cross-border infrastructure.