Indian Railways plans to construct a 69.4 km railway line connecting Kokrajhar in Assam to Gelefu in Bhutan. The project, estimated to cost around Rs 3,500 crore, will establish a direct railway link between the two regions.
Boost for Tourism and Trade
The new railway line is expected to enhance tourism and trade between India and Bhutan, further strengthening bilateral ties.
Bhutan’s First Railway Link
This will be Bhutan’s first-ever railway connection, with the construction fully funded by the Government of India. The Detailed Project Report (DPR) has already been completed.
Managed by NF Railway
Train operations on this route will be overseen by the North Eastern Frontier (NF) Railway.
Six New Stations Planned
As part of the project, six new stations will be developed: Garubhasa, Runikhata, Shantipur, Balajan, Dadgiri, and Gelefu.
India-Bangladesh Rail Link on Hold
Following the recent coup in Bangladesh, the India-Bangladesh railway project from Agartala, Tripura, to Akhaura, Bangladesh, has been suspended. The project had an estimated budget of Rs 708.73 crore. Train services between Bengal and Bangladesh have been halted since July 2024.
Mizoram-Myanmar Rail Project Stalled
In November 2023, India conducted a survey for a 223 km rail project linking Aizawl, Mizoram, to Hnahthial in Myanmar, aiming to connect Mizoram with Sittwe port. However, political instability in Myanmar has put the project on hold.
