Thimphu sees boost as India hands over funds for infrastructure and digital skills

Thimphu’s development landscape received a significant lift after India transferred a cheque worth 290 crore rupees to Bhutan’s Ministry of Finance. The funding is part of India’s pledge under Bhutan’s 13th Five-Year Plan and was announced by the Indian mission in the capital.

The 19th monthly coordination meeting brought together Indian diplomats and senior officials of the Royal Government of Bhutan to assess the status of joint projects and plan upcoming actions. Among the highlighted initiatives are modernisation of college campuses under the Royal University of Bhutan, expanded human‑resource training, and skill‑development exchanges for teachers and students.

A second phase of chain‑link fencing aimed at protecting crops, the redevelopment of the Fuentsholing Sports Association field, and the creation of a national weather and flood‑warning centre in Thimphu were also approved.

A dedicated digital‑skill programme will receive 8.83 crore rupees, enabling the rollout of digital learning tools across roughly 100 local administrative units, potentially reaching one million beneficiaries. Additional resources will support the enhancement of the Royal Institute of Management’s infrastructure, construction of a new district court, and refurbishment of the Gelephu General Hospital.

The meeting referenced prior negotiations in July and the September visit by India’s Foreign Minister, noting successful completion of major bridge reconstructions, construction of eleven new bridges, upgrades to 37 schools, and procurement of 100 electric cars and 45 electric buses for governmental use.

India’s assistance to Bhutan’s solar and wind energy projects, as well as the ongoing multi‑disciplinary super‑specialty hospital project that will link a 200‑bed cancer facility with a 430‑bed indoor‑outdoor centre, were also reviewed, marking an expanded scope of bilateral cooperation.