Bhutan’s King has announced plans to build a massive “international city” in an area of over 1,000 sq. km. on its border with Assam. This project is known as the Gelephu Project.
Highlights of the Gelephu Smart City Project
- The project is expected to be an “economic corridor connecting South Asia with Southeast Asia via India’s northeastern States”.
- The city is expected to follow environmental standards and sustainability as a goal, and will aim to attract “quality investment” from “specially screened” international companies.
- The project is expected to include “zero emission” industries, a “mindfulness city” that plays to Bhutan’s strength in tourism and wellness, as well as infrastructure companies.
- The project is expected to be a “Special Administrative Region” that would be run under different laws to facilitate more international investment.
- The project is expected to be a “point of inflection” and “transformation” for Bhutan and South Asia.
- The Government of India agrees to construct the first India-Bhutan railway line to Gelephu.
- The railway will also connect with roadways and border trading points into Assam and West Bengal, eventually providing Bhutan access to Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Singapore.
Key Facts Related to Bhutan
- Bhutan is nestled between India and Tibet, an autonomous region of China.
- and is a landlocked country.
- Thimphu is the Capital City of Butan.
- Bhutan became a democratic country in 2008 after the first democratic elections were held in the country. The King of Bhutan is the Head of State.
River
- The main rivers from west to east are the Torsa (Amo), Wong (Raidak), Sankosh (Mo), and Manas. All the rivers flow southward from the Great Himalayas and join the Brahmaputra River in India.
- The longest river in Bhutan is the Manas River.
- The Manas River is a transboundary river in the Himalayan foothills between southern Bhutan and India.