Project bears significance for Garo Hills having trade ties with Bhutan
Guwahati, Mar 2: Land-locked Himalayan nation Bhutan is set to get its first railway link with Indian Railways completing a DPR for laying of tracks to Gelephu from Assam’s Kokrajhar, a Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) spokesperson said on Saturday.
The proposed project bears significance for Meghalaya in view of the export of minerals from Garo Hills to Bhutan through Goalpara district and Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) in Assam.
The state’s trade link – based on road transport – across Brahmaputra river is likely to undergo a massive transformation with the Kokrajhar-Gelephu line through BTR.
The proposed 69.04 km railway line will connect Kokrajhar station in Assam to Gelephu in Bhutan at an estimated cost of ₹3,500 crore.
The project includes the development of six new stations – Balajan, Garubhasa, Runikhata, Shantipur, Dadgiri and Gelephu.
The infrastructure plan features two important bridges, 29 major bridges, 65 minor bridges, one road over-bridge, 39 road under-bridges and two viaducts of 11-metre length.
“The final location survey has been successfully completed and the DPR has been submitted for further approval and necessary directives,” the spokesperson said.
“The proposed railway line will significantly strengthen India-Bhutan relations by enhancing trade, tourism and cultural exchanges between the two nations. It will also improve connectivity, providing Bhutan with its first-ever railway link, facilitating seamless transportation,” he said.
The railway line will position the Bodoland Territorial Region as a trade and transit hub, benefiting local businesses and communities.
The spokesperson further said that the proposed railway line is in keeping with the Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Act East Policy’ and ‘Neighbourhood First Policy’.
Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw too announced the project during the Advantage Assam 2.0 Investment and Infrastructure Summit in Guwahati recently.
