The New City of the Dragon King and India's Bid to Support It

Most of the northeastern borders of India have been in focus due to the conflicts in Myanmar and the political chaos in Bangladesh.

- RAMI NIRANJAN DESAI

However, amidst the dire predictions that have followed, there is a small 699 km stretch in the northeast region that remains virtually unaffected. It has never seen any conflict with India, has zero political instability, and no simmering nationalisms manifesting as anti-India sentiments.

The Bhutan border touches the states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal, and Sikkim, with border crossings in Jaigaon & Chamurchi, Alipurduar district in West Bengal, and Santabari in Assam, located just across the proposed Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) in Sarpang District, Bhutan. The Indian border lies about 30 km to the east and serves as one of the border market road entry points into Bhutan from India.

The Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC), a large urban development project proposed by Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk, the fifth Druk Gyalpo (Dragon King) of Bhutan, aims to create a city that propels Bhutan's economic growth while integrating holistic living and sustainability. The GMC lies in the emerging economic corridor between South Asia and South East Asia, with a vision to attract investors while embracing conscious and sustainable business inspired by Bhutan's Buddhist spiritual heritage.

The internationally renowned Bjarke Ingels Group has been awarded the contract to design the city, which promises to maintain 70 percent green cover. Gelephu already has a domestic airport, but a new international airport is slated for 2025, alongside a 5 GW hydro power plant and five-star resort sites with golf courses, among other features. The timeline for critical infrastructure development is ambitious, with a deadline set for 2029, as is the aim to attract investment from a range of industries, including education, agri-tech, forestry, green energy, the tech industry, and logistics, among others.