Bilateral relations between India and Bhutan are set to get a big boost with the inauguration of the immigration checkpost at Darranga in Assam’s Baksa district on Thursday for the entry and exit of third-country nationals travelling between the two neighbouring countries.

The checkpost, about 98km from Guwahati, was inaugurated by Assam governor L.P. Acharya in the presence of Bhutanese Prime Minister Lyonchhen Dasho Tshering Tobgay.

“Earlier, third-country nationals were permitted to enter or exit Bhutan only via the Paro International Airport or the Jaigaon-Phuentsholing land border. Opening of the new Immigration Check Post for third-country nationals is expected to further boost connectivity, promote tourism and people-to-people ties,” a statement from the ministry of external affairs (MEA) said on Thursday.

The two countries had agreed to designate Darranga (Assam)/Samdrup Jongkhar (Bhutan) as the immigration checkpost between the two nations to facilitate the entry and exit of third-country nationals by land route during the Bhutan King’s visit to India in November 2023.

Bhutanese Prime Minister Tobgay has welcomed the operationalisation of the Darranga checkpost, which will boost tourism and economic development in eastern Bhutan, and thanked the Centre for its efforts in promoting greater connectivity in the region.

Assam governor Acharya, during the inauguration, underlined the long-standing ties of friendship between Bhutan and India and recent initiatives for cross-border infrastructure development and the enhancement of people-to-peopleconnectivity.

Hailing the opening of the checkpost as historic, Acharya said considering the geographical proximity of Assam and Bhutan, the state is poised for a bigger role and can be used as a springboard for enhanced Indo-Bhutan bilateral ties.

Acharya said: “This checkpost will ease travel and foster trade, cultural exchanges, and strategic cooperation between India and Bhutan. Our bond is unique, heartfelt, and based on shared cultural heritage and historical ties.”

Around 23,100 international tourists and 52,508 Indian tourists visited Bhutan between January and June this year, according to reports.

A senior Assam government official, who attended the inauguration, told The Telegraph that an international tourist visiting Bhutan can now enter Assam (India) through the Samdrup-Jongkhar (Bhutan)-Darranga (Assam) border check post and visit tourist sites such as Kaziranga and Manas National Parks or any other states instead of returning to Paro/ Phuentsholing and then entering India. Similarly, a foreign tourist visiting Assam or Northeast can enter Bhutan through Darranga.

“Travelling between both countries for foreign tourists becomes easy, saving both time and money. Now they don’t have to return from Samdrup Jongkhar to Para or Phuentsholing if they want to visit Assam or any other place in the Northeast. Like Bhutan, India’s Assam and the Northeast stand to gain from this checkpost which was not the case earlier,” the official said.