India will create an 89km long railway network in Bhutan. There will be Rs 4033 crore investment on this project. Connectivity of Galefu and Samatse of Bhutan will be better. Bhutan will get the facility to export its goods. Most exports of Bhutan are from the ports of India.
India Bhutan Rail Connectivity: Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav on Monday emphasized the importance of the Indo-Bhutan rail connectivity project. He described it as very important for Bhutan’s economic development and access to the world.
Vaishnav said, “This project is actually connecting two very important cities in Bhutan. One is Galesfu and the other is Samatse. Galifu is being developed as a Mindfulness City. At the same time, Samatsse is an industrial city.
India is the biggest business partner of Bhutan
Emphasizing business relations, Vaishnav said, “India is the largest trading partner in Bhutan. Most of Bhutan’s trade is through Indian ports. Therefore, a good and non -interrupted rail connectivity is very important to increase the Bhutanese economy and give people better access to the global network. That is why this complete project has been started.”
The first rail connectivity project starting in Bhutan
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, who was present in briefing, also emphasized the bilateral significance of the new rail link. He said, “The links on which the work is going on will be very important for increasing the movement of goods and passengers. In view of this special relationship, the two governments have agreed to set up two cross-border rail links between Banarhat and Samatse and Kokrajhar and Gallefu. It will be the first set of railway connectivity projects with Bhutan.”
Vikram Misri said, “Memorandum (MoU) for this connectivity was actually signed during the Prime Minister’s visit to Bhutan, which I mentioned a while ago, which took place last year. This MoU will be subsequently signed on the occasion of Bhutani Foreign Secretary’s visit in New Delhi.”
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The joint press conference was done by Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri at the launch of new railway projects between India and Bhutan in Delhi.
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