Rail transport in Bhutan

There is no rail transport in Bhutan.

Bhutan and India signed a memorandum of understanding in January 2005 to connect Bhutan with the Indian Railways network with 5 new routes in Bhutan.[1][2] Additionally, the Indian Military has also identified more routes to complement the India-China Border Roads (ICBR) and negate the Siliguri Corridor's geostrategic vulnerability, all of which will be 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge.

Note: Rail lines listed west to east.

Route Length (km) Future Extensions Operational (date) Major tunnels # & names Major bridges # & names Conceived by Status/Comments


Gangtok-Nathang-Haa-Paro-Thimphu line Ext-1: Yongphulla Airport-Bathpalathang Airport-Lingmethang(Mongar)-Thimphu-Paro International Airport line.
Also see Ext-3 for Paro-Doklam-Lingzhi Yügyal Dzong connection. 		N (2027?) Indian Military Gangtok-Nathang-Haa-Paro International Airport-Thimphu.[3]


Banarhat–Samtse line 18 km Ext-2: Samtse-Nathu La line N (2025?) 2005 Indo-Bhutan MoU Banarhat–Samtse.[4][2]


Hasimara–Pasakha-Phuentsholing line 18 km Ext-3: Phuentsholing-Paro International Airport-Doklam-Lingzhi Yügyal Dzong line. N (2025?) 2005 Indo-Bhutan MoU Hasimara Airforce Station–Pasakha-Phuentsholing. This line has the first priority to be constructed due to high passenger and goods transportation.[5][2]
Kokrajhar–Gelephu line (Gelephu Airport) 70 km N (2025?) 2005 Indo-Bhutan MoU Kokrajhar of New Jalpaiguri–New Bongaigaon section–Gelephu.[2] survey completed in April 2023 and construction will be completed by 2026 (aug 2023 update).[6]
Pathsala–Naglam line 40 km Ext-4: Naglam-Lingmethang(Mongar)-Lhuntse-Rinchen Bumpa line with spur to Trashiyangtse in northeast.
Also see Ext-1 for connection in east to Yongphulla Airport (& Lumla-Tawang). 		N (2025?) 2005 Indo-Bhutan MoU Pathsala–Naglam.[2]


Rangla–Darranga–Samdrup Jongkhar line 60 km N (2025?) 2005 Indo-Bhutan MoU Rangla–Darranga–Samdrup Jongkhar.[2]


Tawang-Trashigang-Yongphulla line See Ext-1 (Thimphu-Tawang). N (2027?) Indian Military Tawang-Lumla-Trashigang-Yongphulla Airport.[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ International Railway Journal March 2005.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Rail connectivity to Bhutan? Indian Railways submits studies for 5 links". The Financial Express. 10 May 2018. Archived from the original on 8 March 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  3. ^ a b [], , .
  4. ^ Pointers Archived 1 November 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Railway Gazette International March 2005.
  5. ^ "View: Enhancing Siliguri corridor for ease of trade and transit in South Asia". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 8 March 2022. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  6. ^ [1] Archived 7 August 2023 at the Wayback Machine रेल में बैठकर जा सकेंगे विदेश, 2026 तक इस खूबसूरत देश तक बिछ जाएगी पटरी, Live Hindustan, 5 aug 2023.