India has extended its support to Bhutan’s Gelephu Mindfulness City project, a sustainable urban development in southern Bhutan aimed at promoting trade, tourism, and regional connectivity.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced plans to link Gelephu and Samtse with India’s rail network. Two cross‑border rail lines are proposed: a 69 km route from Kokrajhar (Assam) to Gelephu, and a 20 km route from Banarhat (West Bengal) to Samtse, with a total cost of ₹4,033 crore. An immigration checkpoint near Gelephu will also be set up to ease travel and trade.
On the energy front, India offered Bhutan a ₹4,000 crore line of credit for hydropower and renewable energy projects, including the 1,020 MW Punatsangchu‑II Hydroelectric Project. Bhutan currently produces all its electricity from renewable sources.
These initiatives reflect India’s efforts to deepen economic, infrastructural, and energy cooperation with Bhutan.
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