Centre Plans Strategic Underground Rail Link Through Chicken’s Neck to Strengthen Connectivity with North East

In a major strategic and infrastructure push, the Centre is planning an underground railway corridor through the Siliguri Corridor—commonly known as the “Chicken’s Neck”—to ensure secure and uninterrupted rail connectivity between the North East and the rest of India.

The proposed project aims to address long-standing security and logistical concerns associated with the narrow stretch of land that connects the region to mainland India. For decades, the corridor has been considered a vulnerable transit zone, both from a strategic and transportation perspective.

According to official sources, the plan includes the construction of a nearly 40-kilometre underground railway line through the corridor. In addition, existing railway tracks in the area are proposed to be expanded into a four-line system to enhance capacity and ensure smoother movement of both passenger and freight trains.

The initiative is being seen as a significant step toward strengthening national security while improving infrastructure resilience in a critical geographical zone. The underground alignment is expected to provide an added layer of protection against disruptions, ensuring round-the-clock connectivity with the North East.

The project forms part of the government’s broader focus on railway expansion in Assam and the wider North-Eastern region. Budgetary allocation for railway development in the region has witnessed a sharp rise over the years, with average annual funding increasing from ₹2,122 crore during 2009–14 to ₹11,486 crore in the 2026–27 period.

Officials said the enhanced funding has supported railway projects in the North East with a cumulative investment of over ₹72,468 crore, reflecting the Centre’s emphasis on improving connectivity, capacity, and strategic preparedness in the region.

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