Assam: India-Bhutan border gates to reopen on Sep 23 post-pandemic

Guwahati: For the first time since the COVID-19 outbreak, the India-Bhutan border gates at Samdrup Jhongkhar and Gelephu along the Assam border will reopen to tourists on September 23.

On Wednesday, a Bhutanese delegation, led by Tashi Penjore, the Himalayan kingdom’s Director (law and order) of the Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs, held a meeting with Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) officials and announced that the gates will be reopened after a two-and-half-year hiatus.

The Bhutanese government has announced the reopening of its borders for trade, commerce, and official transit as of September 23, providing no worsening of the pandemic situation, Penjore stated.

After entering Bhutan through the Gelephu and Samdrup Jongkhar gates, he urged Indian visitors to explore the country’s several regions.

We used to only issue admission permits through Phuentsholing and Paro, but we’ve since created three more access points for tourists, the official stated.

However, a Substantial Development Fund (SDF) will be charged for improving services and infrastructure, besides environmental conservation, he said.