AdvertisementAdvertisementIndia's Narendra Modi (centre), with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi jinping in Tianjin on Sep 1, 2025. (Photo: AFP/Suo Takekuma/Pool)30 Sep 2025 02:43AM (Updated: 30 Sep 2025 02:53AM) Bookmark Bookmark WhatsApp Telegram Facebook Twitter Email LinkedInRead a summary of this article on FAST.Get bite-sized news via a newcards interface. Give it a try.Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FASTFAST NEW DELHI: India and Bhutan will build their first cross-border railway lines in a US$454 million project set to be completed within four years, New Delhi announced on Monday (Sep 29).The initial 69km railway will link India’s northeastern city of Kokrajhar with Gelephu, a Bhutanese border town of around 10,000 people. A second 20km line will connect Bhutan’s northwestern industrial hub of Samtse with Banarhat in eastern India.Indian foreign secretary Vikram Misri said his country, Bhutan’s main trading partner — "has played a vital role" in modernising the Himalayan kingdom’s economy and infrastructure."The entire area will get connected. And lots of goods movement, which takes days today, will start happening in a few hours," Indian Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told reporters.Suryakumar says champions India 'denied' the trophy after Asia Cup winMusk's X 'deeply concerned' by Indian court order over content takedown, plans appealWinners India refuse Asia Cup trophy from ACC chiefBOOST TO GELEPHU ECONOMIC HUBBhutan, a landlocked nation of fewer than 800,000 people, is wedged between China and India and is famous for prioritising “Gross National Happiness” over economic growth.But it is banking on developing Gelephu as an economic and investment hub, with the new railway considered central to the project."It is envisaged as an economic hub connecting Bhutan with South Asia and Southeast Asia," Misri said.Vaishnaw added that the new train lines would be electric and designed to be as environmentally friendly as possible.Source: AFP/fsSign up for our newslettersGet our pick of top stories and thought-provoking articles in your inboxSubscribe hereGet the CNA appStay updated with notifications for breaking news and our best storiesDownload hereGet WhatsApp alertsJoin our channel for the top reads for the day on your preferred chat appJoin hereAlso worth readingContent is loading...Expand to read the full storyGet bite-sized news via a newcards interface. Give it a try.Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FASTFAST