Guwahati, Mar 1 (PTI) Land-locked Himalayan nation Bhutan is set to get its first railway link with Indian Railways completing a detailed project report (DPR) for laying of tracks to Gelephu from Assam's Kokrajhar, a Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) spokesperson said on Saturday.

The final location survey for the proposed railway line has already been completed, the approval of the DPR is now awaited, he said.

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The spokesperson said the proposed 69.04 km railway line will connect Kokrajhar station in Assam to Gelephu in Bhutan at an estimated cost of Rs 3,500 crore.

The project includes the development of six new stations –Balajan, Garubhasa, Runikhata, Shantipur, Dadgiri and Gelephu.

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The infrastructure plan features two important bridges, 29 major bridges, 65 minor bridges, one road over-bridge, 39 road under-bridges and two viaducts of 11-metre length.

"The final location survey has been successfully completed and the DPR has been submitted for further approval and necessary directives," the spokesperson said.

"The proposed railway line will significantly strengthen India-Bhutan relations by enhancing trade, tourism and cultural exchanges between the two nations. It will also improve connectivity, providing Bhutan with its first-ever railway link, facilitating seamless transportation," he said.

The railway line will position the Bodoland Territorial Region as a trade and transit hub, benefiting local businesses and communities.

The spokesperson further said that the proposed railway line is in keeping with the Prime Minister's vision of 'Act East Policy' and 'Neighbourhood First Policy'.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)