India and Bhutan have strengthened their relationship by upgrading their border and immigration posts. The development aims to support Bhutan’s fifth king’s plans to transform Gelphu into a smart city along the Bhutan and Assam border. In a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck in New Delhi, discussions were held on various topics, including bilateral cooperation and regional and global issues of mutual interest.
In addition, the two countries agreed to finalize a survey for a 58-km cross-border rail link between Gelephu and Kokrajhar in Assam which will be constructed by India. They also discussed exploring a second rail link which would measure about 18 km between Samtse in Bhutan and Barhat in West Bengal’s tea garden area. India has also permitted Bhutanese trade items to be transported further from Haldibari in West Bengal to Chilahati in Bangladesh.
Furthermore, India and Bhutan have agreed to designate the Darranga-Samdrup Jongkhar border crossing between Assam and Bhutan’s less developed South-eastern district as an immigration check post. This will allow third country nationals to enter and exit from there. The King of Bhutan expressed his gratitude to the Indian government for their development assistance in Bhutan’s 12th Five-year Plan (2018-23). The King is also scheduled to meet with the heads of top business houses in Mumbai.
