India, Bhutan Looking At New Cross-Border Rail Link Between Banarhat-Samtse
Key Points
According to the joint statement issued late on Monday night after a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk, the two sides have agreed on a final location survey for the proposed cross-border rail link connecting Kokrajhar in Assam to Gelephu in Bhutan with Indian support.
New Delhi, Nov 7: India and Bhutan have agreed on the final location survey of the first cross-border rail link between the two sides as part of enhanced connectivity for further strengthening bilateral ties.
According to the joint statement issued late on Monday night after a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk, the two sides have agreed on a final location survey for the proposed cross-border rail link connecting Kokrajhar in Assam to Gelephu in Bhutan with Indian support.
The two sides also agreed to consider establishing a rail link between Banarhat in West Bengal and Samtse in Bhutan.
The meeting between Prime Minister Modi and the visiting Bhutanese King, who is on a week-long trip to India, assumes importance in the backdrop of China making desperate efforts to spread its influence in the Himalayan kingdomn.
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✨Prime Minister Modi assured the king of India’s commitment to its friendship and cooperation with Bhutan and reiterated the country’s “continued and full support to the socio-economic development in Bhutan”, according to a joint statement.
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India will also provide bridge financing to Bhutan for period between the 12th and 13th five-year plans of Bhutan for India-assisted projects and schemes.
The two sides also reiterated the importance of co-operation in the hydropower sector and their commitment to advance it further.
(IANS)