Kokrajhar–Gelephu Special Railway Project (SRP)
Kartavya Desk Staff
Source: TOI
Context: The proposed 69-km Kokrajhar–Gelephu rail line, India’s first-ever railway link to Bhutan, has been declared a Special Railway Project (SRP) by the Indian Railways.
About Kokrajhar–Gelephu Special Railway Project (SRP):
• What it is? A cross-border railway project connecting Kokrajhar in Assam (India) with Gelephu in Bhutan. Aims to provide Bhutan its first railway connectivity and deepen bilateral ties.
• A cross-border railway project connecting Kokrajhar in Assam (India) with Gelephu in Bhutan.
• Aims to provide Bhutan its first railway connectivity and deepen bilateral ties.
• Organisation involved: Implemented by the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) under the Railways Act, 1989. Supported by the Government of India in alignment with the Act East Policy.
• Implemented by the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) under the Railways Act, 1989.
• Supported by the Government of India in alignment with the Act East Policy.
• Aim: Strategic importance: Enhance cross-border connectivity with Bhutan. Economic growth: Facilitate trade, tourism, and people-to-people contact. Security: Strengthen India’s frontier infrastructure in the Northeast.
• Strategic importance: Enhance cross-border connectivity with Bhutan.
• Economic growth: Facilitate trade, tourism, and people-to-people contact.
• Security: Strengthen India’s frontier infrastructure in the Northeast.
• Features: Project cost: Approx. ₹3,500 crore. Stations: Six new stations – Balajan, Garubhasa, Runikhata, Shantipur, Dadgiri, Gelephu. Road connectivity: 1 Road Over Bridge and 39 Road Under Bridges. Viaducts: Two viaducts of 11 metres each for safe passage across difficult terrain.
• Project cost: Approx. ₹3,500 crore.
• Stations: Six new stations – Balajan, Garubhasa, Runikhata, Shantipur, Dadgiri, Gelephu.
• Road connectivity: 1 Road Over Bridge and 39 Road Under Bridges.
• Viaducts: Two viaducts of 11 metres each for safe passage across difficult terrain.
• Significance: First rail link for Bhutan: Historic step in Bhutan’s infrastructure development. Boost to Act East Policy: Improves Northeast India’s integration with South Asia. Regional trade hub: Facilitates faster goods movement between India and Bhutan.
• First rail link for Bhutan: Historic step in Bhutan’s infrastructure development.
• Boost to Act East Policy: Improves Northeast India’s integration with South Asia.
• Regional trade hub: Facilitates faster goods movement between India and Bhutan.