India will build a railway to the tiny Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, a country famous for its beautiful landscapes and Buddhist monasteries. China has built massive road and rail infrastructure near India’s borders in recent years, and the New Delhi-based country has also announced a number of investments along its northern borders.

In 2023, India will begin construction of a narrow-gauge railway to Geleph in Bhutan, starting from the Indian city of Kokrajhar. The total length will be 57 km, and the costs will be at least 130 million dollars.

Negotiations between the two countries began a long time ago, and the first memorandum was signed in 2005.

The investment is part of India’s plan to improve rail connectivity with its neighbours, known as the BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal).

The area of ​​the Kingdom of Bhutan is six times smaller than the territory of Romania, the road network is very limited and the population is less than 800,000 inhabitants.

Bhutan is one of the most beautiful countries in the world thanks to the Himalayan landscapes and numerous Buddhist temples. It is also one of the most expensive tourist destinations, with a daily fee of US$200 that any foreign visitor must pay, in addition to accommodation, food and sightseeing fees.

The country was closed to tourists for two and a half years due to the pandemic, and reopened in September 2022.

Source: International Railway Journal

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