INDIA BHUTAN RAIL CONNECTIVITY
KEY DETAILS
- On September 29, 2025, India officially announced two new cross-border railway lines connecting India to Bhutan.
- These 2 new cross-border railway lines near the strategic Chicken’s Neck will integrate Bhutan with India’s rail network while strengthening Northeast India’s security and supply chains.
- The announcement was made by Ashwini Vaishnaw (Minister of Railways) and Vikram Misri (Foreign Secretary of India).
- The project covers a total railway length of 89 kilometres, costing approximately Rs 4,000 crore.
- The routes are:
- Kokrajhar (Assam) → Gelephu (Bhutan)
- Banarhat (West Bengal) → Samtse (Bhutan)
- Expected time to complete the project: 3 to 4 years.
- This initiative gained momentum following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2024 visit to Bhutan.
- Bhutan currently does not have any railway connectivity, so this marks a historic first for the country.
SIGNIFICANCE
For Bhutan:
- The rail links will provide Bhutan with access to India’s extensive railway network, which is critical for a landlocked country like Bhutan.
- This will facilitate:
- Increased tourism (easier travel for tourists from India and beyond).
- Enhanced trade and economic activity, making goods movement more efficient.
- Job creation and economic development through improved connectivity and infrastructure.
- Bhutan’s economy is closely tied to India, as India is Bhutan’s largest trading partner.
For India:
- The project strengthens India’s economic and strategic partnership with Bhutan.
- Improves connectivity with India’s Northeast region, a strategically sensitive and economically developing area.
- Spurs greater economic growth and integration in border areas.
- Provides India strategic leverage in a region contested by China.
- Enhance presence of India in the Chicken’s Neck corridor
ABOUT THE CORRIDOR
- The two railway lines are near the Siliguri Corridor, also known as the “Chicken’s Neck”.
- The Siliguri Corridor is a narrow stretch of land (only about 21-22 km wide) in West Bengal.
- It connects India’s mainland to its seven Northeastern states:
- Assam
- Arunachal Pradesh
- Nagaland
- Manipur
- Mizoram
- Tripura
- Meghalaya
BORDERING COUNTRIES OF CHICKEN’S NECK
The corridor is bordered by:
- Nepal to the northwest
- Bangladesh to the south
- Bhutan to the north
- China to the north
This corridor is a critical but vulnerable land bridge essential for economic and military connectivity.
WHY IS IT VULNERABLE?
- Due to its narrow width and strategic location, it can be easily disrupted by:
- Military conflict or incursions
- Internal unrest or blockades
- Natural disasters
- Any disruption could isolate the Northeast, threatening India’s territorial integrity and economic security.
SECURITY & MILITARY IMPORTANCE
- The new railway lines will improve the movement of troops, weapons, and supplies to the border regions.
- This is critical to maintain India’s security preparedness, especially given the history of border tensions with China.
- The 2017 Doklam standoff between India, Bhutan, and China occurred near this region, highlighting its sensitivity.
- The rail lines support faster military mobilization and improved economic integration, making the region more resilient.
- Bangladesh’s interim Chief Advisor, Mohammad Yunus, highlighted India’s Northeast as “landlocked,” stressing the vulnerability of connectivity.
INDIA’S BORDER INFRASTRUCTURE PUSH
India is actively building multiple infrastructure projects near its borders with China, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Bhutan to enhance strategic mobility.
Some examples include:
- Sela Tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh — to provide all-weather connectivity.
- Darbuk–Shyok–Daulat Beg Oldie (DS-DBO) road in Ladakh — crucial for border patrols near China.
These projects aim to:
- Bridge the infrastructure gap with China.
- Ensure rapid troop and logistics movement in remote, strategic areas.
THE CHINA FACTOR
- Bhutan is the only South Asian country without formal diplomatic ties with China.
- Despite this, China is increasing its influence in Bhutan through investments and aid.
- Bhutan has an unresolved border dispute with China.
- China is developing infrastructure such as a new railway connecting Xinjiang to Tibet, which runs close to disputed territories near Ladakh and Aksai Chin.
- This infrastructure strengthens China’s military and logistical capabilities near the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with India.
- China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) involves extensive investments in infrastructure (ports, airports, railways) in countries around India, including Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal. This is part of China’s strategy to extend its influence in South Asia.
THE BANGLADESH FACTOR
- Bangladesh’s interim government Chief Advisor, Muhammad Yunus, in a visit to China, called India’s Northeast “landlocked.”
- India responded by restricting some Bangladeshi exports and accelerating alternative connectivity projects that avoid Bangladesh.
- These moves indicate India’s desire to reduce reliance on Bangladesh for connectivity.
Bangladesh’s political shift:
- Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina (in power until August 2024) had friendly ties with India.
- The current interim government under Yunus has adopted a more anti-India stance and strengthened ties with China.
- Examples of Chinese involvement in Bangladesh causing concern for India:
- Bangladesh shifting the $1 billion Teesta River project from India to China.
- Reviving the Lalmonirhat airbase in northern Bangladesh with Chinese help.
WHY LALMONIRHAT AIRBASE IS IMPORTANT?
- Originally a British-era airfield, mostly dormant since Bangladesh’s independence.
- Its revival with Chinese assistance could convert it into:
- A logistics or surveillance hub.
- A potential military or dual-use base.
- The airbase’s location near the Siliguri Corridor poses a security threat to India.
- India fears it could be used by China or Pakistan to threaten the Chicken’s Neck and Northeast India.
SECURITY CHALLENGES
- The corridor’s narrowness makes it prone to:
- Military incursions and blockades.
- Internal unrest and natural disasters.
- Proximity to the Chumbi Valley increases vulnerability to Chinese advances.
- Cooperation between China and Bangladesh could give China indirect access to the corridor area.
- Any hostile action in this region risks isolating the Northeast, threatening India’s unity and security.
INDIA’S STRATEGIC RESPONSE
- India is fast-tracking alternative connectivity projects to bypass Bangladesh:
- Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Project (linking Kolkata to Mizoram via Myanmar).
- India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway connecting Northeast India to Southeast Asia.
- India is enhancing its internal infrastructure around the Siliguri Corridor.
- Increasing military preparedness in the region by:
- Conducting exercises like Teesta Prahar (May 2023) focusing on integrated security.
- Deploying border guarding forces (BSF, ITBP, SSB).
- Enhancing surveillance and rapid troop movement capability.
KALADAN MULTIMODAL PROJECT
India Myanmar Thailand trilateral highway
THE STRATEGIC MESSAGE INVOLVED
- India’s announcement reflects a proactive approach to developing cross-border infrastructure.
- It demonstrates India’s commitment to the economic development and integration of South Asia, especially smaller neighbors like Bhutan.
- The project is a clear signal to China that India will resist any attempt to dominate its neighbors.
- It reinforces India’s strategic presence in a sensitive geopolitical region near the Siliguri Corridor and the tri-junction of India, Bhutan, and China.
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