India-Bhutan Railway: Kokrajhar–Gelephu line to be completed in three years

Guwahati: Work on the proposed railway line connecting Kokrajhar in Assam to Gelephu in Bhutan is expected to be completed within three years once construction begins, senior Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) officials said, highlighting Assam’s relatively smooth progress compared with delays in West Bengal.

Speaking at a press conference, NFR General Manager Chetan Kumar Shrivastava said Indian Railways is advancing two major rail connectivity projects with Bhutan. One involves a 69-kilometre line linking Kokrajhar to Gelephu, while the other is a 20-kilometre stretch connecting Banarhat in West Bengal to Samtse in Bhutan.

Hitendra Goyal, Chief Administrative Officer of NFR (Construction), said the Assam project is on a firm footing and should be completed within three years after work begins. He credited the proactive approach of the Assam government, noting that state authorities have been cooperative and supportive in facilitating the project.

In contrast, progress on the Banarhat–Samtse line in West Bengal has been slow due to land acquisition challenges. The proposed route passes through four tea gardens, and officials noted that delays from the state government have hindered any concrete timeline for completion.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had earlier described both projects as strategically important, expected to strengthen trade, tourism, and people-to-people links between India and Bhutan. Gelephu and Samtse are major Bhutanese trade hubs along the nearly 700-kilometre India-Bhutan border.

Officials also highlighted Bhutan’s plans to develop Gelephu as a “mindfulness city” and Samtse as an industrial town, underscoring the long-term economic potential of these rail links. The Kokrajhar–Gelephu line has been designated a Special Railway Project, allowing faster clearances and expedited land acquisition, reinforcing confidence that the project will be completed on schedule.