Final location survey on for two rail links between India and Bhutan

Both sides have welcomed measures to enhance connectivity between India and Bhutan, including the development of rail and road connectivity and the upgradation of trade infrastructure for the seamless movement of people and goods.

NIRMALYA BANERJEE, EOI, KOLKATA, MARCH 18, 2024 : India-Bhutan partnership is characterized  by “utmost trust, goodwill, and mutual understanding at all levels” and is reinforced by “robust people to people linkages and close economic and development partnership,” a joint statement issued by the governments of India and Bhutan has said after the visit of Prime Minister of Bhutan Tshering Tobgay to Delhi last week. 

Both sides have welcomed measures to enhance connectivity between India and Bhutan, including the development of rail and road connectivity and the upgradation of trade infrastructure for the seamless movement of people and goods. The progress on opening of additional points for immigration and trading routes was also noted with satisfaction. 

The two sides also noted the progress towards the establishment of two rail-links: Banarhat in West Bengal to Samtse in Bhutan and Kokrajhar in Assam to Gelephu in Bhutan. The Northeast Frontier Railway is undertaking the Final Location Survey of the two rail-links in consultation with the Bhutanese side, the joint statement says. 

Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi has appreciated the vision of King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel of the ‘Gelephu Mindfulness City’ which will lead to economic prosperity and development in Bhutan and in the region in a sustainable manner, and further strengthen economic and investment linkages between India and Bhutan.

Narendra Modi has reiterated India’s commitment to step up support for Bhutan’s 13th Five-Year Plan and agreed to consider the request for an ‘Economic Stimulus Program.:” India’s development assistance will be geared towards the development of infrastructure, building connectivity, including road, rail ,air and digital connectivity, and insectors like agriculture, healthcare, education, skilling and cultural preservation. 

The two Prime Ministers have reiterated their commitment to expanding hydro-power cooperation and asked officials to hold consultations on the modalities for the implementation of new projects. The progress in construction of the 1020 MW Punatsangchhu-II hydro power project has been noted, with the likely commissioning of the project in 2024. They have noted the progress made towards finding a technically safe and cost-effective way forward on the Punatsangchhu-I hydro power project. 

Both the Prime Ministers have agreed to expand the existing India-Bhutan energy partnership to non-hydro renewables, such as solar and wind as well as green initiatives for hydrogen and e-mobility besides energy efficiency and conservation measures. 

It has been agreed that India-Bhutan partnership in the education sector will be strengthened, thereby strengthening the vibrant people to people relations that are at the heart of the India-Bhutan friendship. 

Bhutan has noted the contribution of Indian teachers for strengthening STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)pedagogy in Bhutan. The two sides have lauded the partnership between India and Bhutan in space technology, including technical capacity-building on remote sensing technology organised by the Indian Space Research Organisation for the Royal Government of Bhutan. 

The two sides have welcomed the development of a Joint Plan of Action on Space Cooperation. 

Tshering Tobgay has extended an invitation to Narendra Modi to visit Bhutan at an early date. The Prime Minister of India has accepted the proposal.