To Bhutan By Rail: India, Bhutan To Finalise Location Of 58-Km Corridor Between Kokrajhar And Gelephu

India and Bhutan have agreed to go ahead with the final location survey of the first cross-border rail link between the two countries.

According to the joint statement issued after the meeting, two sides agreed to undertake the Final Location Survey (FLS), in consultation with the Bhutanese side, of the proposed 58 km cross-border rail link connecting Kokrajhar in Assam, to Gelephu in Sarpang, Bhutan.

Indian Railways has already completed the Preliminary Engineering-cum-Traffic (PET) survey of the proposed rail link to be built by India.

The rail connectivity could in the future assist air connectivity for Indians in the northeast as well, as Bhutan plans to build an international airport at Gelephu as part of the larger Sarpang district Special Economic Zone, a new initiative is expected to be announced by the Bhutanese King on 17 December.

Moreover, both parties have concurred on exploring the possibility of creating a secondary railway connection spanning approximately 18 km, linking Samtse in Bhutan with the tea gardens area in Banarhat, West Bengal.