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India to Bolster Rail, Trade Connectivity Between Bhutan, Bangladesh

Bhutan has deep economic ties with India and New Delhi is developing Bhutan’s first railway
Sputnik
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk have agreed to bolster cross-border railway and trade linkages between Bhutan and Bangladesh, according to a joint statement after summit-level talks between the two leaders in New Delhi on Monday.
The landlocked country of Bhutan is bordered by the Indian states of Sikkim, West Bengal and Assam. On the other hand, Bangladesh shares a direct land border with Assam and West Bengal among other Indian states.
A train route connecting Bhutan to Bangladesh will traverse both the Indian states.

The joint statement between the Bhutanese King and the Indian PM said that the existing Haldibari (West Bengal) – Chilahati (Bangladesh) rail route would be designated as train route to help Bhutan carry out trade with Bangladesh.

The leaders’ statement also noted that the border check post in Darranga (Assam) would be designated as an “immigration post” to help Bhutan carry out trade with third nations.

Bhutan’s First Railway Line

The joint statement also noted that the two sides would undertake a Final Location Survey (FLS) of the proposed cross-border rail link connecting Kokrajhar in Assam to Gelephu in Bhutan, which would be Bhutan’s first railway line.

“The two sides noted successful completion of the Preliminary Engineering-cum-Traffic (PET) survey of the rail-link by Indian Railways,” the statement said.
PM Modi and King Wangchuk have also agreed to “consider establishing” a rail link connecting Banarhat in West Bengal and Samtse in Bhutan, the statement said.

India-Bhutan Summit

The Bhutanese King is on an official visit to India between 3 and 10 November.

The talks between Modi and Wangchuk focused on the expanding cooperation in the areas of cross-border trade infrastructure, trade and mutual investments, energy, health, education, skill development, space technology, and environment conservation, and close people-to-people contacts, according to the joint statement.

The two leaders also discussed other regional and global issues of mutual interest, it said.

Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar also called upon the visiting monarch in New Delhi, it said.
The Bhutanese king is visiting Assam, New Delhi and Maharashtra during his India visit, according to an official statement.
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