Gelephu Special Administrative Region (stylized as GeSAR), also known as Gelephu Mindfulness City, is a planned special administrative region and economic hub in Gelephu, Bhutan, that covers an area of 1,000 square kilometers.[1] It will also serve as a connectivity between South Asia and South East Asia.
Gelephu Special Administrative Region | |
|---|---|
| Country | Bhutan |
| Region | Gelephu |
| Government | |
| • Type | Special Administrative Region with its own Basic Law |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,000 km2 (400 sq mi) |
The plan for SAR was addressed to the public by King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan on his Royal Address coinciding with the 116th National Day celebration on December 17, 2023.[2]
Background
editIt was the planned project of the King of Bhutan for several years. The SAR or the Gelephu Mindfulness City will have its own laws and systems and the development will start through Foreign Direct Investment. The Monarch of Bhutan has held a talk with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India on the project and a possible 58 km railway connection between Gelephu of Bhutan and Kokrajhar of Assam, India, was discussed. The development will start with the expansion of Gelephu Domestic Airport to international airport from the monsoon of 2024. It will be the part of Sarpang district Special Economic Zone.[3][4]
References
edit- ^ "Bhutan King announces mega Gelephu city project along Indo-Bhutan border". India Today NE. 2023-12-17. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
- ^ "His Majesty announces Gelephu Mindfulness City SAR project of 1,000 sq km". The Bhutanese. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
- ^ "Bhutan King announces mega Gelephu city project along Indo-Bhutan border". India Today NE. 2023-12-17. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
- ^ Chaudhury, Dipanjan Roy (2023-12-18). "Bhutan King unveils plans for economic linkages with Assam". The Economic Times. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 2023-12-18.