| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | India and Bhutan approve first-ever cross-border railway links |
| Lines Approved | Kokrajhar-Gelephu and Banarhat-Samtse |
| Kokrajhar-Gelephu | - Links Assam's Kokrajhar to Bhutan's Gelephu- Length: 70 km- Cost: ₹3,456 crore- 6 stations, nearly 100 bridges |
| Banarhat-Samtse | - Links West Bengal's Banarhat to Bhutan's Samtse- Length: 20 km- Cost: ₹577 crore- 2 stations, 25 bridges |
| Total Investment | ₹4,033 crore |
| Strategic Importance | - Strengthens economic and strategic cooperation- Integrates Bhutan into regional trade networks- Counters external influences in South Asia |
| Economic Impact | Reduces logistics costs, shortens transit times, improves access to Indian ports |
| Development Focus | - Gelephu: Planned "Mindfulness City"- Samtse: Industrial hub development |
| Fast-Tracked | Kokrajhar-Gelephu declared a "Special Railway Project" for faster clearances and land acquisition |
| Key Figures | - First India-Bhutan rail projects- ₹4,033 crore total cost- 90 km combined length |
Contact Counsellor