India to build two cross-border rail links to Bhutan, will cost ₹4,000 cr, Pg1.

Key Highlights:

• India will construct two cross-border railway links to Bhutan, connecting Kokrajhar in Assam to Gelephu in Bhutan and Banarhat in West Bengal to Samtse in Bhutan.
• The Kokrajhar-Gelephu line, spanning 69 km, will cost ₹3,456 crore, while the Banarhat-Samtse line, covering 20 km, will cost ₹577 crore.
• An MoU was signed between Railway Board Chairman Satish Kumar and Bhutan Foreign Secretary Aun Pema Choden for the railway links.
• The projects aim to enhance connectivity, boost trade, and provide economic opportunities, with Gelephu being developed as a 'Mindfulness City' and Samtse as an industrial town.

Detailed Insights:

• The Kokrajhar-Gelephu line will have six stations, two major bridges, 29 important bridges, 65 minor bridges, two goodsheds, one flyover, and 39 underpasses, with an expected construction period of four years.
• The Banarhat-Samtse line will include two stations, one major bridge, 24 minor bridges, one overpass, and 37 underpasses, and is expected to be completed in three years.
• The Samtse line will cover 2.13 km on the Bhutanese side and 17.42 km on the Indian side, while the Gelephu line will cover 2.39 km in Bhutan and 66.66 km in India.
• The railway lines will be fully electrified and equipped to run modern trains like Vande Bharat, featuring an advanced signalling system to facilitate passenger and goods movement.
• The project will enhance overall connectivity and have a spinoff effect for the entire region, with potential exports from Samtse to India including dolomite, ferro-silicon, quartzite, and stone chips.
• The segment of the project on the Indian side will be funded by the Railway Ministry, while the line on the Bhutan side will be supported under India’s assistance for Bhutan’s 13th Five Year Plan.

Key Concepts Involved:

• EXIM Trade: Refers to export and import trade activities conducted by a country.
• Memorandum of Understanding (MoU): A formal agreement between parties expressing a convergence of will, often used to initiate collaborative projects.
• Connectivity: The measure of how well different locations are linked to each other through transportation and communication networks.