Historic India–Bhutan Railway Projects Set to Transform Connectivity

General Studies Paper-2

Context

• The Union Government announced two cross-border railway projects which will connect Bhutan with the bordering areas of Assam and West Bengal.

Background

• The genesis of these two projects lies in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between Bhutan and India in 2005.
• Why Gelephu and Samtse?
  • Gelephu and Samtse are the major export-import hubs in Bhutan and serve the 700-km long India-Bhutan border.
  • Gelephu is being developed as “Mindfulness City” and Samtse is being developed as an industrial town by the Government of Bhutan.

About the Rail Projects

• Kokrajhar–Gelephu Line: It will connect Sarpang district in Bhutan with Kokrajhar and Chirang districts in Assam.
  • It is declared a Special Railway Project for fast-track approvals and land acquisition.
  • It will span 69 km and is estimated to cost Rs 3,456 crore.
• Banarhat–Samtse Line: It will connect Samtse district in Bhutan with Jalpaiguri district in West Bengal.
  • The line will cover 20 km and is estimated to cost Rs 577 crore.

Significance of the Project

• Strengthening ties with Bhutan:
  • Development assistance: This initiative builds on India’s long-standing role as Bhutan’s largest developmental partner and its recent commitment of approximately $1.2 billion for Bhutan’s 13th Five-Year Plan.
  • Enhanced contact: Facilitating smoother passenger and cargo movement is expected to boost people-to-people connections and cultural exchanges.
• Increasing trade:
  • Seamless connectivity: For landlocked Bhutan, the railway links will provide seamless access to Indian ports and markets, significantly lowering freight costs for its exports.
  • Bolstering key hubs: The new lines will support the economic development of Gelephu as a new commercial hub and Samtse as an industrial center.
  • Free trade access: As Bhutan’s top trading partner, the projects will further enhance the benefits of the 2016 free trade agreement between the two nations.
• Counterbalancing China’s influence: The railway lines are located near the sensitive Siliguri Corridor (Chicken’s Neck Area), a narrow strip of land linking mainland India to its northeastern states.
  • By improving security and supply chains in this region, the project helps mitigate potential security risks in the wake of China’s growing regional footprint.

What are the challenges?

• Land Acquisition and Terrain: Southern Bhutan and northeast India have hilly and forested terrain, making land acquisition complex and time-consuming.
  • Negotiating with local communities and obtaining environmental clearances could cause delays.
• Construction and Engineering: Projects require numerous bridges, viaducts, and underpasses in challenging topography.
  • There are risks of geological hazards such as landslides, river floods, and seismic activity.
• Strategic and Geopolitical Risks: Proximity to the China–Bhutan–India border requires infrastructure security and strategic considerations.

Way Ahead

• The railway projects mark a historic milestone in India–Bhutan relations, establishing the Himalayan nation’s first-ever train links.
• With careful implementation and bilateral cooperation, the project poised to become a transformative infrastructure initiative, benefiting both nations and the broader eastern Himalayan region.