Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) general manager Chetan Kumar Shrivastava announced that the railway line connecting Kokrajhar in Assam to Gelephu in Bhutan is expected to be completed within three years. This project includes a 69-km Kokrajhar-Gelephu line and a 20-km connection between Banarhat (West Bengal) and Samtse (Bhutan). Chief Administrative Officer, NFR (Construction), Hitendra Goyal, noted that the Assam project will proceed swiftly once construction begins, supported by a positive state government. However, the West Bengal segment is experiencing delays due to land acquisition issues. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw previously highlighted these projects’ potential to enhance trade, tourism, and bilateral exchanges. Gelephu and Samtse are key export-import hubs in Bhutan, as the country develops Gelephu into a “mindfulness city” and Samtse into an industrial town. The Kokrajhar-Gelephu line has been designated a Special Railway Project to facilitate faster clearances and land acquisition.
