For the first time since the COVID-19 outbreak, the India-Bhutan border crossings at Samdrup Jhongkhar and Gelephu along the Assam border will reopen to visitors on September 23. The gates will be reopened after a two-and-a-half-year absence, according to a Bhutanese delegation led by Tashi Penjore, the Himalayan kingdom’s Director (law and order) of the Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs, who met with Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) representatives here on Wednesday.
The Bhutanese government has announced the reopening of its borders for trade, commerce, and official transit as of September 23, provided that the pandemic situation does not worsen, Penjore stated. This announcement follows an improvement in the COVID-19 scenario.
“Many authorities on both sides have changed over the past two and a half years, making it difficult for us to meet and develop the kind of friendships and interpersonal connections that are crucial for those living near the two countries’ borders. We anticipate more of these visits ” he added.
After entering Bhutan through the Gelephu and Samdrup Jongkhar gates, he advised Indian visitors to explore the country’s many regions. There are now three new access gates for tourists, he said, adding that before we only provided entry permits at Phuentsholing and Paro.
For tourists, the Bhutanese government has organised ecotourism, birdwatching, and other programmes. To ensure smooth travel, a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been established. He stated that travellers who plan to spend the night and continue beyond the specified locations will be charged Rs 1,200. The official urged visitors to the Himalayan nation to bring their voter identification cards and other necessary documentation.
(source : PTI)
