Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on July 4 said the state is steadily positioning itself as a major pillar of India’s Act East Policy, with improved connectivity expected to unlock fresh opportunities for trade, tourism and regional economic growth.
In a post shared on X, Sarma highlighted the proposed 69.05-kilometre Kokrajhar-Gelephu railway line, describing it as a transformative infrastructure project that will deepen India-Bhutan relations while boosting cross-border connectivity.
The railway corridor, estimated to be built at a cost of Rs 3,456.36 crore, will link Kokrajhar in Assam with Gelephu Mindfulness City in Bhutan, the neighbouring country’s flagship urban development project.
According to the Chief Minister, the rail link will enhance Assam’s role as a gateway for international commerce and tourism, further strengthening the state’s strategic importance in India’s engagement with neighbouring countries and Southeast Asia under the Act East Policy.
Sarma also noted that the project represents another milestone in the enduring partnership between India and Bhutan, while paving the way for greater regional connectivity and creating new avenues for economic development on both sides of the border.
