Guwahati, March 1 (IANS) A new railway line from Assam’s Kokrajhar to Gelephu in Bhutan has been proposed to improve cross-border connectivity and strengthen bilateral ties, officials said here on Saturday.
The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) Kapinjal Kishore Sharma said that the Indian Railways is actively advancing towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of the ‘Act East Policy’ and ‘Neighborhood First Policy’.
“Under these policies, several new railway projects are being undertaken to enhance connectivity with neighboring countries,” he said.
Sharma said that in line with the PM’s vision and the policies, a new railway line from Kokrajhar to Gelephu linking Assam with Bhutan has been proposed to improve cross-border connectivity and strengthen bilateral ties.
According to him, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the project during the ‘Advantage Assam 2.0 Investment and Infrastructure Summit in Guwahati on February 25. The CPRO said that the proposed 69.04 km railway line would connect Kokrajhar station in Assam to Gelephu in Bhutan at an estimated cost of Rs 3,500 crores. 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 (ROB), 39 Road Under Bridges (RUB) and two viaducts of 11-meter length.
Sharma said that the Final Location Survey (FLS) has been successfully completed and the Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been submitted for further approval and necessary directives. 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.
Additionally, the railway line would position Bodoland in western Assam as a trade and transit hub, benefiting local businesses and communities. Overall, the Assam-Bhutan railway line is set to transform Bodoland’s economy and connectivity, paving the way for long-term growth and development.
Meanwhile, the upcoming Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) project, being developed by the Bhutan government, is likely to be beneficial for both Bhutan and Assam. Spread over 2,500 square km areas, the GMC is a Special Administrative Region in Bhutan, envisioned by King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and it is an innovative urban development project that integrates economic growth with mindfulness, holistic living, and sustainability.
Situated along Datgari of Chirang district of Assam, GMC’s strategic position at the crossroads of major economic regions, including South Asia, ASEAN, and China, combined with Bhutan’s commitment to sustainable development, rich cultural heritage, and strong governance, positions the City as a global leader in mindful and sustainable urban growth.
–IANS
sc/dan
Disclaimer
The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. The information is provided by TodayIndia.news and while we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.
In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from loss of data or profits arising out of, or in connection with, the use of this website.
Through this website you are able to link to other websites which are not under the control of TodayIndia.news We have no control over the nature, content and availability of those sites. The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.
Every effort is made to keep the website up and running smoothly. However, TodayIndia.news takes no responsibility for, and will not be liable for, the website being temporarily unavailable due to technical issues beyond our control.
For any legal details or query please visit original source link given with news or click on Go to Source.
Our translation service aims to offer the most accurate translation possible and we rarely experience any issues with news post. However, as the translation is carried out by third part tool there is a possibility for error to cause the occasional inaccuracy. We therefore require you to accept this disclaimer before confirming any translation news with us.
If you are not willing to accept this disclaimer then we recommend reading news post in its original language.
