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The Union government is set to construct an underground railway corridor over a 40 kilometre stretch in Siliguri's Chicken's Neck, a critical land link connecting India's Northeast with the rest of the country. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that the plan involves two underground lines in addition to expanding existing surface tracks from double to four lines, creating a six line network. The underground section, running between Tin Mile Haat and Rangapani, will also connect Bagdogra to support air defence logistics. Officials emphasize the project's security and strategic importance for uninterrupted movement and regional connectivity.
The government has announced plans to develop an underground railway corridor along the Siliguri region's Chicken's Neck, a narrow but strategically vital strip connecting India's Northeast to the mainland. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw indicated that special planning is in progress for this 40 kilometre corridor, which borders Nepal and Bangladesh, with Bhutan and China a few hundred kilometres away. He said the initiative involves laying new underground tracks alongside existing surface lines, which will also be upgraded from double to four lines, forming a total of six railway tracks in the corridor. Advertisement
Officials from the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) confirmed that the underground section will extend between Tin Mile Haat and Rangapani stations. NFR General Manager Chetan Kumar Shrivastava highlighted the importance of this stretch from a security perspective. He added that one of the underground lines will connect to Bagdogra in West Bengal, a location critical to the country's air defence operations. The tracks are planned at a depth of approximately 20-24 metres below ground despite the relatively flat terrain.
The corridor is being designed to ensure both strategic safety and enhanced connectivity. NFR Chief Administrative Officer (Construction) Hitendra Goyal explained that the existing double-line section will be converted into four lines, while the underground addition will result in a six-line network combining overground and underground tracks. This configuration is expected to improve logistical support, facilitate transport, and provide redundancy in case of disruptions.
The plan comes amid ongoing efforts to strengthen access to the Northeast, which is highly dependent on the narrow Chicken's Neck for movement of goods and passengers. Last year, Assam had advocated for alternative road routes to reduce reliance on the strip following comments by Bangladesh's interim government head, highlighting that northeastern states depend on Bangladesh for maritime access. The new corridor aims to secure uninterrupted connectivity, address logistical vulnerabilities, and bolster strategic infrastructure in this sensitive region.
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