Indiabhutan To Collaborate For Hydropower & New Railway Project

2025-09-30 02:06:57

(MENAFN- KNN India) New Delhi, Sep 30 (KNN) Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Monday held talks with his Bhutanese counterpart Aum Pema Choden in New Delhi, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to further strengthening the longstanding India–Bhutan partnership, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

The two Foreign Secretaries "reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral cooperation and reaffirmed the commitment of both sides to further strengthen the special India-Bhutan friendship," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X.

A major highlight was the successful commissioning of all six units of the 1,020 MW Punatsangchhu-II hydropower project, described as a milestone in the India–Bhutan Joint Vision on Energy Partnership.

Both sides also expressed satisfaction with the implementation of projects under Bhutan's 13th Five-Year Plan, supported by the Government of India.

India has committed assistance worth INR/Nu 10,000 crore (Rs 100 billion), covering Project Tied Assistance (PTA), High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDP), the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP), and programme grants.

Currently, 61 PTA projects amounting to INR/Nu 4,958 crore and 283 HICDPs worth INR/Nu 417 crore are underway across multiple sectors.

The Indian side has so far released INR/Nu 750 crore for the ESP and INR/Nu 100 crore as programme grant. Bhutan presented the second tranche of PTA proposals covering 10 projects worth INR/Nu 1,113 crore in healthcare, connectivity, urban infrastructure, and livestock, which were approved during the visit.

Connectivity was another key focus. An Inter-Governmental MoU was signed for the establishment of India–Bhutan railway links, including cross-border routes between Kokrajhar and Gelephu, and Banarhat and Samtse.

The projects are expected to enhance trade, economic ties, and people-to-people linkages.

The discussions built on the Development Cooperation Talks held in New Delhi on June 30, which laid the groundwork for the current agreements.

(KNN Bureau)

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