Bhutan plans to build a massive “international city” in an area of over 1,000 sq. km on its border with Assam.
Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck announced to applause from a packed audience of 30,000 at the Changlimathang stadium in Thimpu on Sunday, pitching the project as an “economic corridor connecting South Asia with Southeast Asia via India’s northeastern States”.
Thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Government of India for agreeing to build the first India-Bhutan railway line to Gelephu,
which will also connect with roadways and border-trading and crossing points into Assam and West Bengal, and over time .
The King’s announcement is the first official confirmation of what is known as the ‘Gelephu Smartcity Project’.
It is expected to follow environmental standards and sustainability as a goal, and will aim to attract “quality investment” from “specially screened” international companies.
Gelephu Smartcity Project – location
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