Momentous: First foreign aircraft lands at under-construction International Airport in Gelephu

Bhutan is looking at investments from Indian businesses for the development of mega city that is coming up along the borders of Assam

The first foreign aircraft landed at the under-construction International Airport in Gelephu Bhutan. 

Gelephu is already hitting the headlines and hogging the limelight after Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck unveiled his plans to develop Gelephu as a mega investment, development and tourism hub under the futuristic Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) project – a project that would cover a vast 2,600 sqkm stretch. 

During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bhutan in March this year, he had announced a financial assistance of Rs 10,000 crore to the Himalayan Kingdom over the next five years, directly double the assistance provided earlier. 

Bhutan is looking at investments from Indian businesses for the development of the mega city that is coming up along the borders of Assam. 

During his visit to India in November last year, King Wangchuck met top Indian business leaders including billionaires Mukesh Ambani, Gautam Adani and Anand Mahindra among others. 

As per media reports, GMR Group, the Indian multinational conglomerate known for its expertise in the energy and infrastructure sectors, is in discussion with Bhutanese officials for the development of infrastructure in the mega GMC. 

India is already financing a Rs 1,000 crore railway project connecting Kokrajhar in Assam to Gelephu, a distance of 57 kms, with a 2026 completion target.

The scale and size of Gelephu Mindfulness City is expected to transform the economic landscape of Bhutan. 

The aircraft that landed at the under-construction Gelephu International Airport was operated by Reliance Transport and Travels, the private Indian firm that offers chartered flights for transport and business.

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