India-Bhutan friendship new speed, government will spend 4,033 crore on railway project

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Deal between India and Bhutan

To further strengthen the relations between India and Bhutan, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav and Foreign Secretary Vikram Egypt have announced a large railway project. In this project, two cities of Bhutan, Gallefu and Samatse will be connected by rail from India at a cost of Rs 4,033 crore.

Ashwini Vaishnav said that this rail project will connect two important cities of Bhutan. Gallefu is being developed as a ‘Mindfulness City’, and Samatse is an industrial city. Both these cities will connect from Kokrajhar and Banarhat in India through rail networks. In this project, the Kokrajhar-Galifu line will connect India’s big industrial hub Bongaigaon. Kokrajhar is a regional station, which will connect this project to India’s 1,50,000 km long rail network. Bhutan can be connected to the huge rail network of India by creating just 70 kilometers of new tracks. Overall, this project will have an 89 km long rail network.

Ashwini Vaishnav said that India is the largest trade partner in Bhutan and most of the trade of Bhutan is done through Indian ports. Therefore, a good rail connection is very important to connect Bhutan’s economy and people there to the global network.

Government of India will bear the expenditure

During PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Bhutan in March 2024, the two countries agreed to two rail lines between Kokrajhar-Galefu and Banarhat-Samatse. The 16 km long Banarhat-Samatse section will connect West Bengal to Bhutan. These lines will give Bhutan its first rail connectivity. The Government of India will bear the cost of this entire project. Foreign Secretary Vikram Egyptian said that there is a very deep and reliable relationship between India and Bhutan, which is based on culture, people’s relations and shared development and safety interests.

He also informed that India has always played a big role in the development of Bhutan, especially in infrastructure and economy growth. For Bhutan’s 13th Five Year Plan (2024-2029), India has promised Rs 10,000 crore, which is doubled from the previous plan. This help includes projects, community development, economy programs and grants.

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