The Centre on Monday announced two cross-border railway projects of 69-km and 20-km length that will connect Bhutan with the bordering areas of Assam and West Bengal. The 69-km Kokrajhar (Assam)-Gelephu (Bhutan) and 20-km Banarhat (West Bengal)-Samtse (Bhutan) will cost Rs 3,456 crore and Rs 577 crore, respectively. “India is the largest trading partner of Bhutan and most of the EXIM trade of Bhutan is done through Indian Ports. He said the Samtse line will cover 2.13 km of Bhutanese side and 17.42 km Indian side, while the Gelephu line will cover 2.39 km Bhutanese side and 66.66 km Indian side. “We will try to have as many people as possible from Bhutan to be trained in railway operations,” he said.