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Inauguration of Khuru Kuenphen Bridge, Punakha (27 March 2026)

Inauguration of Khuru Kuenphen Bridge

Today, His Excellency Lyonpo Chandra Bahadur Gurung, Hon’ble Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Royal Government of Bhutan and Shri Sandeep Arya, Ambassador of India to Bhutan jointly inaugurated the Khuru Kuenphen Bridge, a landmark infrastructure project in Punakha.

The bridge has been built as an India-Bhutan Friendship Project with Government of India’s support of INR/Nu. 250 million.

The bridge replaces an old Bailey bridge constructed in 2003, and provides a more permanent (long-life), sturdy, higher load-bearing capacity with a good pedestrian walkway bridge using advanced and high-tech engineering.

On the occasion, Ambassador expressed pleasure that the new-age bridge, with its enhanced capacities and features, will benefit the people of Punakha and Wandue Phodrang, businesses, tourists and other travellers, and will contribute to economic development and modernization. He described it as another mark of deep friendship between India and Bhutan as well as the people of two countries.

The bridge will benefit the residents, businesses, tourists and others in Punakha, Wangdue Phodrang and nearby Dzongkhags such as Gasa. It will provide improved and direct connectivity between the urban centres of Khuruthang in Punakha and Bajo in Wangdue Phodrang, thus facilitating ease of living for local residents, enhanced economic activity and contributing to regional development.

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Thimphu
27 March 2026