Hydropower Project Inauguration To Railway Connectivity: Why PM Modi’s 2-Day Bhutan Visit Is Of Importance
The visit seeks to strengthen the special ties of friendship and cooperation between the two countries. Image courtesy: RNA
India and Bhutan share a unique and exemplary partnership marked by deep mutual trust, goodwill and respect for each other. To further strengthen this friendship and deepen the ties, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on a two-day state visit to Bhutan from November 11–12.
Marking another milestone in the enduring friendship between the two Himalayan neighbours, PM Modi’s visit will provide an opportunity for both sides to deliberate on ways to further enhance and strengthen their bilateral partnership, and exchange views on regional and wider issues of mutual interest.
During the visit, PM Modi will receive an audience with His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, and the two leaders will jointly inaugurate the 1,020 MW Punatsangchhu-II Hydroelectric Project, a flagship symbol of India-Bhutan collaboration in sustainable energy.
PM Modi Bhutan visit: Why is this spiritually and culturally significant?
The visit coincides with two major spiritual and cultural events in Bhutan. PM Modi will attend celebrations marking the 70th birth anniversary of the Fourth King, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, who is revered as the architect of Bhutan’s modern development philosophy — Gross National Happiness.
Adding a deeper spiritual dimension, the Prime Minister will also offer prayers to the sacred Piprahwa relics of Lord Buddha, temporarily housed at Tashichhodzong in Thimphu, and take part in the Global Peace Prayer Festival organised by the Royal Government of Bhutan. The exposition of the relics from India underscores the shared Buddhist heritage that continues to bind the two nations.
PM Modi’s Bhutan visit, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation, celebrate shared spiritual and cultural bonds, and deepen strategic connectivity projects that could reshape India’s engagement with its northeastern frontier.
Big infra announcements expected during PM’s Bhutan visit?
At the heart of the visit are two new cross-border railway projects, infrastructure initiatives that could transform trade and connectivity between India and Bhutan.
The Kokrajhar–Gelephu line, connecting Assam to southern Bhutan, is estimated at Rs 3,456 crore, featuring six stations, multiple bridges, and flyovers.
The Banarhat–Samtse line, linking West Bengal to southwestern Bhutan, will cost ₹577 crore and is expected to be completed within three years.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri described the projects as “game-changers” for the region. He highlighted that Gelephu, envisioned by Bhutan’s King as the ‘Mindfulness City’, a futuristic eco-economic hub, could become a model for sustainable regional growth, with ripple effects across Assam and the eastern corridor of India.
How does PM Modi’s Bhutan visit reinforce strategic and economic ties?
Bhutan remains India’s closest development partner, with New Delhi committing Rs 10,000 crore towards community development and program grants under Bhutan’s 13th Five-Year Plan (2024–29). India continues to be Bhutan’s largest trading partner, supporting a wide range of projects from hydropower to digital connectivity.
Economic cooperation is also expected to expand in areas such as clean energy exports, minerals, and infrastructure. The upcoming rail links are designed to lower transportation costs for Bhutan’s key exports which include dolomite, ferro-silicon, quartzite, and stone chips.
Notably, PM Modi’s Bhutan visit comes at a moment when regional dynamics in the eastern Himalayas are evolving rapidly, with both India and Bhutan seeking to enhance connectivity, security, and resilience amid changing geopolitical realities.
The trip also follows Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay’s two visits to India earlier this year, reflecting the close coordination and regular high-level exchanges that have become a hallmark of the India–Bhutan relationship.
PM’s Bhutan visit also key for India’s neighborhood first policy?
Apart from everything else, PM Modi’s Bhutan visit reinforces India’s ‘Neighborhood First’ and ‘Act East’ policies, positioning Bhutan as a vital partner in ensuring stability, sustainability, and strategic balance in the Himalayas. PM Modi’s visit is expected to reaffirm the timeless friendship.
