Gelephu Smart city

December 21, 2023

Bhutan plans to build a massive “international city” in an area of over 1,000 sq. km. on its border with Assam, Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck announced recently.
This is projected as an “economic corridor connecting South Asia with Southeast Asia via India’s northeastern States”.
This is the first official confirmation of what is known as the ‘Gelephu Smartcity Project’.
It is expected to follow environmental standards and sustainability as a goal, and will aim to attract “quality investment” from “specially screened” international companies.
India is building first India-Bhutan railway line to Gelephu, which would also connect with roadways and border trading and crossing points into Assam and West Bengal, and over time, give Bhutan access to Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Singapore.