Why in the News?
India and Bhutan have launched their first-ever rail links, connecting Kokrajhar–Gelephu (69 km, Assam–Bhutan) and Banarhat–Samtse (20 km, West Bengal–Bhutan).
About India–Bhutan Railway Connectivity:
- Overview: Agreements were signed during PM Modi’s visit to Bhutan (March 2024) and formalised in 2025.
- Projects:
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- Kokrajhar–Gelephu line: 6 stations, multiple bridges, viaducts, designed for Vande Bharat trains; expected completion in 4 years.
- Banarhat–Samtse line: 2 stations, major & minor bridges, flyovers, underpasses; expected completion in 3 years.
- Both lines will be fully electrified, giving Bhutan direct access to India’s 1,50,000 km railway network, boosting passenger and goods transport.
Significance of the Project for India:
- Bilateral Relations: Strengthens ties with Bhutan, India’s closest neighbour and largest recipient of Indian development assistance.
- Strategic Security: Enhances regional security and serves as a counterbalance to China’s influence in South Asia.
- Economic Integration: Supports Bhutan’s trade (80% with India), boosts hydropower exports, and aids industrial development.
- Tourism & Culture: Improves people-to-people exchanges, especially linking Gelephu’s Mindfulness City and Samtse’s industrial hub.
- Act East Policy: Advances India’s policy through cross-border infrastructure in the eastern and northeastern region.
- Rail Diplomacy: Positions Indian Railways as a strategic enabler of diplomacy and connectivity in the neighbourhood.
| [UPSC 2023] With reference to India’s projects on connectivity, consider the following statements:
1. East-West Corridor under Golden Quadrilateral Project connects Dibrugarh and Surat. 2. Trilateral Highway connects Moreh in Manipur and Chiang Mai in Thailand via Myanmar. 3. Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor connects Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh with Kunming in China. How many of the above statements are correct? Options: (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None* |
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