“The tour operators in Guwahati have given me positive feedback of the feasibility of starting Druk Air flights from Paro airport in Bhutan to Guwahati city,” he said on the sidelines of the meeting.

“Though the priority is to have rail connectivity between Hasimara in West Bengal and Phuentsholing in our country, Assam will also figure in our railway map,” Wangda pointed out.

While Hasimara and Phuentsholing will be connected by 18-kms of railway tracks, Pathsala, Rangiya and Chirang in Assam will be connected with Bhutan’s Nnaglam, Samdrupjhonkar and Gelephu. Tracks between Pathsala and Nnaglam will stretch to about 51-kms, while the Rangiya-Samdrupjhonkar will be 45 kms long and Chirang-Gelephu 40 kms. “Rail links will benefit both sides as it will increase the movement of people and goods thus boosting trade and commerce,” he added.

In 2005, Bhutan and India had agreed on conducting a feasibility study for rail connectivity between the two countries through West Bengal and Assam. The Rail India Technical and Economic Services had been entrusted with the responsibility of carrying out the study.

Mr. Wangda said that Bhutan wants to strengthen the relationship with its next door neighbour Assam. As a result of a great degree of stability in Assam, thousands of Bhutanese come to Assam for business purposes on a daily basis, especially in Chirang district. “We want to foster the centuries-old relationship between the people of Bhutan and Assam,” he said.

He also added that the Himalayan kingdom was willing to lift the travel restrictions imposed on its citizens, especially students and patients after Operation All Clear was launched against militant outfits ULFA and NDFB in 2003 to restore good relations with Assam. “We have to take risks now and withdraw the advisory,” said Mr. Wangda, adding that “The reason behind staying for a longer period of time is to assess the situation on the ground level so that relations can be improved substantially.”

Mr. Wangda said that Assam would benefit from any project taken up in Bhutan, especially along the borders and the Manas River. He requested the Chief Minister to take up the matter with the Government of India on repairing the 40-km stretch of road from Samthebari near Dhalgaon in Assam to Bhutan. “The repair will enable Bhutan to move men and materials at a faster pace.” Chief Minister Gogoi assured him that he would take up the matter with the Government of India soon.

Mr. Wangda said that they were planning to form the Guwahati chapter of the Indo-Bhutan Friendship Association, a forum to solve the problems between Assam and Bhutan. “This can later become the Assam Bhutan Chamber of Commerce,” he added. Plans are also afoot to have a Bhutan Consulate in Guwahati.

The Chief Minister said that Assam wanted to strengthen further relationships with Bhutan and that Bhutan could send its tourists, students and patients to Assam following remarkable improvement in the law and order situation.