Gelephu-Kokrajhar railway link to align with GMC plans

The preliminary Feasibility Study Report has been submitted to the government for review

Lhakpa Quendren

Gelephu—The much anticipated 69.04-kilometre cross-border railway project connecting Gelephu to Kokrajhar station in Assam, India, is being integrated into the development blueprint of the Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) project.

The GMC authority is co-ordinating with both the Royal Government of Bhutan and Indian counterparts to align the railway project with the city’s infrastructure and economic plans.

“The railway project has been reviewed to support GMC’s infrastructure and logistics plans, ensuring its integration with the city’s trade and economic ecosystem,” a GMC official said.

Although the construction of the railway link is awaiting formal approvals, the initial phases of the project are expected to catalyse local employment, stimulate infrastructure development, and bolster investor confidence.

“The railway will be a key enabler for GMC’s medium to long-term economic growth and regional connectivity,” said the GMC official.

Discussions on the cross-border rail link began in 2017. However, the project has been delayed following previous feasibility studies that identified significant challenges on the Indian side, including settlement encroachments, high land acquisition costs, and expensive infrastructure requirements.

With renewed commitments and a shared regional vision, both Bhutan and India appear determined to turn the long-awaited project into reality.

Although the Bhutanese government has not received the Detailed Project Report (DPR), Indian media reported that the final survey is complete and the DPR has been submitted for government approval.

The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) in India has completed and shared the Feasibility Study Report—Preliminary Engineering cum Traffic Survey Report with the Bhutanese government.

“The NFR is currently conducting an Economic Internal Rate of Return and Financial Internal Rate of Return analysis,” said an official from the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (MoIT), which is overseeing the railway project.

The first-ever railway connection to India is expected to transform regional connectivity, economic activity, and bilateral relations by improving the transport of goods, passengers, and construction materials between the two countries, while also providing strong support for the GMC project.

MoIT officials said that the railway link is expected to facilitate the bulk transportation of goods, reduce carbon emissions compared to road transport, support long-term economic growth, and attract investments.

The construction of the railway link will begin following formal approvals and bilateral agreements.

According to the project plan, the railway will feature five new stations—Balajan, Garubhasa, Runikhata, Shantipur, and Dadgari in Assam’s Bodoland Territorial Region, and one in Gelephu, currently planned near the Dry Port area, close to the International Airport, to ensure efficient connectivity for both trade and passengers.

Estimated to cost a staggering INR 35 billion, the railway project includes the construction of 31 major bridges, 65 minor bridges, one road overbridge, 39 road underbridges, and two viaducts—each 11 metres in length—along the railway line in India.

MoIT officials, however, said that these infrastructure requirements are outlined in the PET report, and that changes to both the infrastructure and alignment may occur during the final design stage.