Recently, India announced plans to build two cross-border rail lines to Bhutan.

About the New Rail Lines

• Strategic Significance: Bhutan is a landlocked country, and the rail line will connect it to India’s vast rail network and to Indian ports.
• Routes: The total length is about 89 km.
  • Kokrajhar (Assam, India) to Gelephu (Bhutan): A 69 km line.
  • Banarhat (West Bengal, India) to Samtse (Bhutan): A 20 km line.
• Timeline: The rail lines are expected to be completed within three to four years.

Advantages of the New Rail Lines

• Trade and Logistics: It will boost trade by allowing goods to be transported more easily and in larger quantities by trains, compared to existing road routes.
• Connectivity: It will give landlocked Bhutan direct access to Indian ports.
• Tourism and Jobs: The lines will increase tourism to Bhutan, generating employment for Bhutanese citizens.
• India’s Policy: The project is a major example of India’s Neighbourhood First Policy.
• Security: The rail line provides India with an alternative route to connect with its North East Region. 
  • This is vital for security, as the Siliguri Corridor (or Chicken Neck), which currently links mainland India to the North East, is extremely narrow (22 km wide at one point) and is a significant security threat.
• Indian Infrastructure Strategy: India is developing railways, roads, bridges, and tunnels along borders with China, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Bhutan.
  • Key projects include the Sela Tunnel and the Darbuk–Shyok–Daulat Beg Oldie (DS–DBO) road, aimed at bridging the infrastructure gap with China

The China Factor

• Bhutan-China Diplomatic Status: Bhutan is the only country with which China currently does not have diplomatic relations.
• China’s Attempts to Influence Bhutan: China has been actively attempting to gain influence in Bhutan, particularly after the 2017 Doklam standoff.
  • China is also expanding infrastructure along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and in South Asia under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), including a railway connecting Xinjiang to Tibet near Ladakh.
• India’s Strategic Response: India’s rail line project is a proactive effort to counter China’s influence in the region.

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Challenges In Implementation of Rail Line To Bhutan

• Topographical and Engineering Hurdles: The rail line must pass through the difficult, mountainous terrain of Bhutan, which requires high engineering standards, especially since the region is a seismic zone prone to earthquakes.
• Land Acquisition: Securing land for the project, particularly in India, presents difficulties.
• Bureaucratic Delays: Despite the estimated ₹4,000 crore cost, bureaucratic red tape could stall the project.
• System Standardization: Issues related to standardizing complex systems, such as the differing signalling systems used by Indian and Bhutanese rail networks, will need to be managed.
• Political Risk: Bhutan’s domestic politics or shifts in public sentiment could potentially lead to the government deciding against continuing the rail link.
• Funding and Execution: India is providing the entire funding for the project (even aid provided to Bhutan will be used to fund their share). 
  • India must ensure timely implementation within the 3–4 year timeframe, as India is often criticised for delays in infrastructure projects compared to China’s rapid execution

Conclusion

The India–Bhutan cross-border railways strengthen economic development, trade, and tourism, enhance connectivity with the Northeast, and bolster strategic preparedness, demonstrating India’s proactive approach to regional integration while countering geopolitical challenges posed by China.

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