Bhutan keen for link up with Indian Rail

The Bhutan government is keen on forging railway linkages with India by 2007.

It has already identified five strategic entry points from India to Bhutan for railways, which, it feels, would boost bilateral trade between the two countries in a big way.

L Dago Tshering, Ambassador of Bhutan to India, during an interactive session with the members of the Bengal National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BNCCI) said that Rites, the consultancy arm of the government of India, is preparing a deatiled project report (DPR) for the rail linkage. "We hope that the DPR will be complete by the end of this year," he said.

The rail link proposed are mainly through Assam and West Bengal. The strategic entry points would be Hansimara in West Bengal with Phuntsheling in Bhutan, Kokrajhor in Assam with Geliphi in Bhutan, Darang in Assam with Samdrupjogha in Bhutan, Banarhat in West Bengal with Samdhi in Bhutan and Pathsala in Assam with Nanglam in Bhutan.

"In a few areas, rail lines are within 12-14 kilometre from the Bhutan border. So, we are optimistic. Once the border linkage with southern Bhutan and India established, we shall try to take it further deep into our country," Tshering said.

Talking about power, Tshering said: "We are now exporting around 400 MW power to India. By the end of July, we shall complete the 2,000 MW Tala project. After that, our power export to India will be around 2,500 MW."

According to Tshering, Bhutan and India are now jointly working on three power projects with a capacity of 2,600 MW.

"Indian agency Wapcos is preparing the DPR for these three projects. We hope that all these projects will be operational by the end of 2012, and our power export to India will cross 5,000 MW," he said.