Guwahati, Feb 3: The proposed railway line connecting Kokrajhar in Assam with Gelephu in Bhutan is expected to be completed within three years once construction begins, senior Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) officials said on February 2, highlighting Assam’s faster progress in contrast to delays affecting a similar project in West Bengal.
Speaking at a press conference, NFR General Manager Chetan Kumar Shrivastava said Indian Railways is currently pursuing two major cross-border rail connectivity projects with Bhutan. The first is a 69-kilometre rail line from Kokrajhar to Gelephu, while the second involves a 20-kilometre stretch linking Banarhat in West Bengal with Samtse in Bhutan.
Chief Administrative Officer (Construction), NFR, Hitendra Goyal said the Kokrajhar–Gelephu project is on a stable footing and, once construction starts, is expected to be completed within a three-year timeframe. He attributed the positive outlook to the proactive and cooperative approach of the Assam government, which has facilitated preparatory processes and coordination.
Officials, however, expressed concern over the Banarhat–Samtse project, which has encountered substantial delays due to land acquisition issues. The proposed alignment passes through four tea gardens in West Bengal, making acquisition complex. Railway officials said progress has been slow and the response from the West Bengal government has not been timely, preventing any firm projection on the project’s completion.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had earlier announced both rail links, describing them as strategically significant initiatives aimed at enhancing trade, tourism and people-to-people exchanges between India and Bhutan. Officials pointed out that Gelephu and Samtse are key export-import centres along the nearly 700-kilometre India–Bhutan border.
They also noted that Bhutan is developing Gelephu as a “mindfulness city” and Samtse as an industrial hub, increasing the long-term economic importance of the proposed rail connections. The Kokrajhar–Gelephu line has been accorded the status of a Special Railway Project, enabling faster clearances and expedited land acquisition, which officials said has reinforced confidence in its timely execution.
