Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck recently revealed an exciting plan for a big development in Gelephu, called the Gelephu Special Administration Region (SAR). This project is all about making Bhutan and Assam better buddies, covering an enormous area of more than 1,000 square kilometers close to the Indian border.
The King, during his 10-day trip to Bharat, chatted with Prime Minister Narendra Modi about this Gelephu project. It’s not just about making a cool region; it’s also part of a larger plan—the Sarpang district Special Economic Zone (SEZ). They’re even thinking of having an international airport in Gelephu. And get this, there might be a 58-kilometer train connecting Gelephu and Kokrajhar in Assam, and they’re checking if a second train, 18 kilometers long, could link Samtse in Bhutan to Banarhat in West Bengal.
The King sees this project as an “economic corridor” linking South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Bharat’s northeastern states. He’s pretty stoked that PM Modi and the Indian government are on board to build the first railway line between Bharat and Bhutan, which will connect Gelephu with roads, trade points, and crossings into Assam and West Bengal. And they’re dreaming big—hoping to eventually connect Bhutan with Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Singapore.
The Gelephu project isn’t just about being fancy; it’s serious business. It’s going to be a “Special Administrative Region” with its own set of rules to attract more international investments. They’re all about being eco-friendly and sustainable, aiming for “zero-emission” industries. They’re even planning a “mindfulness city” to tap into Bhutan’s strengths in tourism and wellness. Overall, it’s a grand plan with an international airport, green industries, and a whole bunch of infrastructure improvements.
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