The India-Bhutan railway link works will commence in the next few months. This was shared by the Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra, yesterday during the special briefing on Prime Minister Modi’s state visit to Bhutan. The railway links will connect Gelephu with Kokrajhar in Assam, spanning 60 kilometres and Samtse with Banarhat in West Bengal covering a distance of 15-18 kilometres.
The foreign secretary said that the initial step, known as the field engineering survey, is currently underway. The survey helps determine the route for railway links. It is expected to be completed soon following which the construction will kick off along with necessary paperwork between the two countries. He added that the construction of the two railway links is a shared priority between the two governments.
The establishment of railway links between India and Bhutan was one of the Memoranda of Understanding that was exchanged between Bhutan and India yesterday.
Tashi Dekar
