Closed 2.3-km cross-border route leaves trucks waiting up to four hours at Integrated Check Post as all export traffic is forced through a single route
TIL BDR GHALLEY | Thimphu
On a stretch of road in Samtse where two kilometres should take only minutes to cross, heavy vehicles now crawl for hours, turning a short border passage into a prolonged wait that has become routine for drivers and traders.
At Samtse’s Integrated Check Post (ICP), heavy vehicles carrying export and import goods often spend three to four hours to pass through a distance of less than two kilometres.
For transporters, the delay has turned border movement into an uncertain and time-consuming process at one of Bhutan’s busiest trade gateways.
The congestion has become a daily reality where all heavy export traffic is now channelled through a single entry and exit system at the Integrated Check Post, concentrating movement at one point along the Bhutan–India border.
At the centre of the slowdown is the continued closure of the Duarpani trade route, a 2.3-kilometre cross-border corridor linking Trashijong in Samtse with Chamurchi in the Indian state of West Bengal through Forest Basti.
The route was closed during the COVID-19 pandemic and has remained non-operational since.
Before its closure, it functioned as a regular trade passage, allowing vehicles to bypass congestion at Samtse town and easing pressure on the Integrated Check Post.
During the 29th meet the press session, minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade D. N. Dhungyel said the Royal Government formally requested the Government of India in November 2023 to reopen the Duarpani route.
He said although the route had not been formally notified as a designated trade corridor, it had been regularly used for cross-border movement before the pandemic.
The government has since been pursuing formal notification of the route with Indian authorities through established bilateral channels, citing its importance in facilitating Bhutanese exports and easing congestion at Samtse.
Lyonpo DN Dhungyel said the Government of India has indicated that the Duarpani route was never formally designated as a trade route, requiring a formal notification process before it can be reopened.
He said the corridor also passes through forest land, requiring additional clearances, while infrastructure at the Chamurchi side is not yet fully ready to handle resumed operations. He added that India has indicated it will support infrastructure development on its side once formal processes are completed.
The Minister said it has continued engagement with Indian authorities since submitting the formal request in November 2023.
These discussions have taken place through established bilateral mechanisms, including the Joint Group of Customs Meeting, the Commerce Secretary-Level Meeting, and the Border District Coordination Meeting.
The ministry said discussions have focused on securing formal notification required for reopening the Duarpani route and addressing the conditions raised in bilateral consultations.
Officials said India has acknowledged the importance of the route for trade facilitation, while maintaining that procedural and infrastructure-related issues must be resolved before reopening.
On the ground, the absence of the Duarpani corridor is most visible at the Integrated Check Post, where long queues of heavy vehicles stretch along the narrow approach road leading to the facility.
Drivers say the flow of traffic is slow and inconsistent, with vehicles often stopping for long periods before inching forward towards inspection points.
The congestion has been attributed to the single-lane entry and exit system at the Integrated Check Post, combined with increasing volumes of Indian vehicles entering Bhutan through the same border point.
With no alternative route available, all heavy export traffic is now forced through the same crossing point, concentrating movement and extending waiting times for transporters.
The Bhutan Exporters Association and local authorities have already developed infrastructure required to resume operations after the pandemic closure of the Duarpani route. However, despite these preparations, the gate remains closed.
Exporters said Indian border authorities, including the Sashastra Seema Bal, have informed them that movement through the Duarpani Gate cannot resume without formal notification from the Government of India in New Delhi.
Transporters say the route once played an important role in distributing traffic and easing pressure on Samtse town.
Its closure has left the Integrated Check Post as the sole operational route for heavy export vehicles in the area, concentrating commercial traffic at a single crossing point.
The situation has increased waiting times for transporters and affected the efficiency of goods movement across the border, with vehicles often remaining in long queues before clearance.
Lyonpo DN Dhungyel said it continues to engage with Indian counterparts through customs, commerce, and border coordination platforms.
He said the matter has been consistently followed up since November 2023 and remains under discussion through bilateral mechanisms.
He said the government is awaiting formal notification from India before the route can resume operations.
Until then, the 2.3-kilometre stretch between Duarpani and Chamurchi remains closed, while long queues at Samtse’s Integrated Check Post continue to define daily trade movement through the district.
