Bhutan announces ambitious economic hub project

By Shakir Husain 

NEW DELHI, Dec 17 (Bernama) -- Bhutan's King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk revealed ambitious plans for a sprawling economic hub spanning 1,000 sq km, named the Gelephu Special Administration Region (SAR) on Sunday.

This initiative aims to strengthen the Himalayan kingdom's ties with South Asia and Southeast Asia.

In his National Day address in the capital Thimphu, King Jigme Khesar disclosed details about the economic city project, envisioning its features such as an international airport and the attraction of global investments and skilled workforce.

Furthermore, the planned hub is set to be linked to India's northeastern region through a dedicated rail service.

The proposed rail link connecting Kokrajhar in Assam state to Gelephu was a topic of discussion during the Bhutanese king's visit to India in November.

The Indian Railways has already completed the preliminary engineering-cum-traffic survey for this rail connection. Additionally, both countries are exploring the establishment of a rail link between Banarhat in West Bengal state and Samtse in Bhutan.

-- BERNAMA