Embassy of India

The 19^th Monthly Coordination Meeting between Embassy of India (EoI), Thimphu and  Royal Government of Bhutan (RGoB) on cooperation under Bhutan’s 13^th Five Year Plan was held today. Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of India, Thimphu and Director General, Department of Macro-Fiscal and Development Finance (DMDF), Ministry of Finance, RGoB participated together with officials from the Indian Embassy and RGoB ministries and agencies.

2. The Indian side handed over cheques amounting to INR/Nu. 2.90 billion (290 crores) to Ministry of Finance, RGoB, towards Government of India’s commitment under Bhutan’s 13^th Five Year Plan for the following projects:

(i) Development of Quality and fit-for-purpose Infrastructure for RUB Colleges: INR/Nu. 632.5 million (63.25 crores). [The total project cost is INR/Nu. 1.91 billion (191 crores).]

(ii) Human Resource Development and Skilling Programmes: INR/Nu. 492.4 million (49.24 crores). [The total project cost is INR/Nu. 1.77 billion (177 crores).]

(iii) Professional Development and Immersion/Exchange Programmes for Teachers, Education Leaders and Students: INR/Nu. 357.3 million (35.73 crores). [The total project cost is INR/Nu. 1.69 billion (169 crores).]

(iv) Safeguarding Crop Protection through Chain-Link Fencing (Phase-II): INR/Nu. 250 million (25 crores) for constructing 60 chain-link fencing projects of total length  of399 km across 19 Dzongkhags in Bhutan. The total project cost is INR/Nu. 500 million (50 crores). Separately, under its phase-I, 193 chain-link projects of total length 1042 km across all 20 Dzongkhags at a total project cost of INR/Nu. 1.5 billion (150 crores) have been completed or under implementation.

(v) Redevelopment of the Phuentsholing Sports Association (PSA) Ground under Phuentsholing Thromde Enhancement Program (PTEP): INR/Nu. 148.9 million (14.89 crores). [The total project cost is INR/Nu. 231 million (23.1 crores).]

(vi) Establishment of National Weather and Flood Warning Centre (NWFWC) and Scientific Facilities, Thimphu: INR/Nu. 99 million (9.9 crores), which will include a 24X7 National Weather and Flood Warning Centre (NWFWC) in Thimphu. [The total project cost is INR/Nu. 331.7 million (33.17 crores).]

(vii) Digital Technology for Teaching-Learning at eight RUB Colleges: INR/Nu. 87.6 million (8.76 crores). [The total project cost is INR/Nu. 290 million (29 crores).]

(viii) Digital Skilling Programme (Digital Drukyul): INR/Nu. 88.3 million (8.83 crores) covering around 1,00,00 citizens across all Gewogs. [The total project cost is INR/Nu. 290 million (29 crores).]

(ix) Development of physical infrastructure and facilities at Royal Institute of Management, Thimphu: INR/Nu. 82.9 million (8.29 crores). [The total project cost is INR/Nu. 200 million (20 crores).]

(x) Thimphu District Court Construction: INR/Nu. 36.5 million (3.65 crores). [The total project cost is INR/Nu. 334 million (33.4 crores).]

(xi) Renovation of Gelephu General Hospital: INR/Nu. 16.638 million (1.6638 crores). [The total project cost is INR/Nu. 411 million (41.1 crores).]

(xii) ProgrammeGrant (9^th tranche of direct budgetary support to Royal Government of Bhutan): INR/Nu. 250 million (25 crores).

(xiii) Infrastructure Development for Dratshang: INR/Nu. 299.20 million (29.92 crores). [The total project cost is INR/Nu. 836.3 million (83.63 crores).]

(xiv) Establishment of the Selwa Center-Bhutan's First Dedicated Center for persons with disabilities: INR/Nu. 44.25 million (4.425 crores). [The total project cost is INR/Nu. 300 million (30 crores).]

(xv) Construction of Khuru Kuenphen bridge on Bajo-Khuru SNH: INR/Nu. 16.30 million (1.630 crores). [With this, the entire project cost of INR/Nu. 226.4 million (22.64 crores) is disbursed.]

3. The Coordination Meeting recalled the fifth Plan Talks led by the two Foreign Secretaries on 30 July and meetings of the External Affairs Minister on 16-17 September which appreciated implementation of India’s support for the 13^th Five Year Plan and ongoing projects. The Coordination Meeting reviewed progress and implementation aspects of the following Government of India-supported projects:

(i) Replacement/Reconstruction of existing major bridges on highways: 11 new bridges- Gektong Zam, Pakhadrang Zam, Revidrang Zam, Rollong Zam, Golingpong Zam, Chableychu Zam, Dramzang Zam (completed), Chumpathang Zam, Kuchidiana Zam, Tsangchuthama Zam and Choralum Zam are being constructed at a total project cost of INR/Nu. 1.08 billion (108 crores).

(ii) Development of Central Schools (37 schools, including 20 Central Schools and 17 cluster schools) covering infrastructure development and improvement, technological upgrades, green energy initiatives, and improvement of sporting facilities at a total project cost of INR/Nu. 6 billion (600 crores).

(iii) Accelerate e-mobility Uptake in Bhutan to procure 100 electric cars as official vehicles and 45 electric buses for public transport at a total project cost of INR/Nu. 1.21 billion (121 crores).

(iv) Construction of Government Offices: New offices for all ministries are to be constructed across two locations in Thimphu. The total project cost is INR/Nu. 1.63 billion (163 crores).

(v) Support to solar and wind projects covering installation of Distributed Energy Resource Systems (DERS) at College of Science and Technology, Phuentsholing, Jigme Namgyel Engineering College, Dewathang, and Jigme Wangchuck Power Training Institute, Gelephu; last mile electrification through solar energy in Trashiyangtse, Lunana and Lhuentse Dzongkhags; supply of 25 solar water heating systems; construction of 5 greenhouse solar dryers; Green Hydrogen Demonstration Project (1MW) in Thimphu; feasibility assessment for utility-scale solar and wind projects; and skill development training in wind and solar energy. The total project allocation is INR/Nu. 1 billion (100 crores).

(vi) Multi-Disciplinary Super Speciality Hospital (MDSSH): A 200-bed cancer hospital alongside a 430-bedded inpatient/outpatient department at the existing Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital (JDWNRH) and Thimphu General Hospital upon successful commissioning of MDSSH. The allocation for the project in 13^th FYP is INR/Nu. 4 billion (400 crores).

(vii) Human Resource Development and Skilling Programmes by Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD) with an allocation of INR/Nu. 183 million (18.3 crores) for in-service skilling programmes for tourism, construction, agriculture, production, ICT, city bus service, Bhutan Post and student-faculty exchange programme for RUB colleges.

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12 October 2026
Thimphu