After 'upsets' in Myanmar and Bangladesh, India rushes to connect Bhutan with first rail network

Guwahati: With political uncertainty and conflict pushing its projects to connect the Northeastern region with Myanmar and Bangladesh with rail netowork to the backburner, India is now rushing with a Rs. 3,500 crore plan to connect its another neighbour Bhutan with a new railway line.

The 69km proposed new rail line, the detailed project report for which is ready now, aims to connect Kokrajhar town in western Assam with Gelephu town in Bhutan, thereby offering the Himalayan neighbour its first rail connectivity.

"The project includes development of six new stations at Balajan, Garubhasa, Runikhata, Shantipur, Dadgiri and Gelephu (in Bhutan). Additionally, the infrastructure plan features two important bridges, 29 major bridges, 65 minor bridges, one road over bridge, 39 road under bridges and two viaducts of 11-meter length. The Final Location Survey (FLS) has been successfully completed and the Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been submitted for further approval and necessary directives," Chief Public Relations Officer at the Northeast Frontier Railway headquarters in Guwahati, Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, said.

"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 will position Bodoland region in Assam as a trade and transit hub, benefiting local businesses and communities," he said. The project is part of the Centre's Act East and "Neighbourhood First" policy.

Hope for Bodoland:

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma recently said the railway line between Kokrajhar, the headquarters of the state's Bodoland region, and Gelephu will help the state reap benefits out of the "Mindful City" Bhutan is planning to set up at Gelephu. "As the mindful city project will tranform Gelephu into an attraction for tourists and traders, we hope to reap benefits out of it, being the immediate neighbour. As Bhutan already have a lot of regulations in place for activities, foreign players can look towards neighbouring Kokrajhar and other towns in Bodoland and even Guwahati for business activities," Sarma said. The CM said Vande Bharat-like trains are also likely to be introduced to connect Kokrajhar and Guwahati in order to reduce the travel time to two hours, from about six hours now. Kokrajhar and Guwahati is 200kms away. Bodoland is rushing with development projects with improvement in law and order following the signing of new Bodoland Accord that virtually ended is long problem of militancy.

"Overall, the Assam-Bhutan railway line is set to transform Bodoland’s economy and connectivity, paving the way for long-term growth and development," Sarma said.

Upsets in Bangladesh, Myanmar:

The Indo-Bhutan rail project was in the pipeline under the Centre's Act East Policy and "Neighbourhood First" policy but the same was now being speedtracked in view of delay in the implementation of rail projects to connect the Northeast with Bangladesh and Myanmar. India was about to inaugrate the rail line between Agaratala in Tripura with Akhaura town in Bangladesh but the political turmoil following the ouster of Sheikh Hasina government in July 2024 halted the work. The political instability also stopped the train services between West Bengal and Bangladesh after Hasina's ouster.

Similarly, the military takeover and the subsequent conflict involving the military and the "pro-democracy protesters" since 2021 in Myanmar, too stopped India's projects to connect Mizoram and Manipur with Myanmar and beyond.

India had also worked out a plan to connect Moreh in Manipur with Tamu in Myanmar with train service as part of the Trans-Asian railway network to connect Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and beyond. The final location survey of a 223-km rail line from Mizoram capital Aizawl to Hbichhuah, near the Myanmar border, was approved in November 2023. The plan was to connect Mizoram with Sittwe port at Kaladan in Myanmar to provide the Northeast an alternate route to the rest of India via Bay of Bengal waterways.

IFOGRAPHICS:

India Myanmar rail:

**The final location survey of a 223-km rail line from Mizoram capital Aizawl to Hbichhuah, near the Myanmar border was approved in November 2023.

**It planned to connect Mizoram with Sittwe port at Kaladan in Myanmar to provide the Northeast an alternate route to the rest of India via Bay of Bengal waterways.

**The work has remained on hold mainly due to political unrest and conflict in Myanmar.

**India also worked out a plan to connect Moreh in Manipur with Tamu in Myanmar with train service as part of trans-Asia railway network to connect Myanmar, Thailand, Bangladesh.

India Bangladesh rail link:

**The project to connect Agaratala in Tripura and Akhaura in Bangladesh has remained stuck due to political uncertainty in Bangladesh.

**India released Rs. 708.73 crores for the 12.25km (5.46km in India, 6.78km in Bangladesh) new rail project.

**The train services between Bengal and Bangladesh (Maitri Express, Bandhan Express and Mitali Express) have remained suspended since July 2024.

DHNS

Map credit: Northeast Frontier Railways.