Araria-Galgalia Rail Line To Shield 'Chicken Neck' Corridor, Will Connect Bihar With Bengal & Nepal

A historic chapter is set to unfold in Bihar’s Seemanchal region, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the newly constructed broad-gauge rail line from Araria to Galgalia on Monday, September 15. Touted as the lifeline of the region, the 110.75-km stretch is being hailed not only as a boon for local connectivity and development but also as a project of critical strategic importance for the country.

For the first time since Independence, Seemanchal finds itself directly linked with the mainstream railway grid through a route that bypasses the much-debated Siliguri Corridor, better known as the ‘Chicken Neck’, a narrow strip of land connecting mainland India to the Northeast and sandwiched between Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and China.

Defence experts have long flagged this corridor as India’s most vulnerable link. With the new line offering an alternative passage, India’s logistical and security preparedness in the eastern frontier is expected to receive a significant boost.

A Project 18 Years In the making

Conceived in 2006, the project faced long delays before finally reaching completion at a cost of around Rs 2,300 crore. Built with 64 major and 264 minor bridges, 11 stations, and a halt, the new alignment will allow trains to run at speeds of up to 100 kmph. It connects Araria and Kishanganj to Galgalia, and further to New Jalpaiguri via Katihar and Purnia, thus linking Bihar to West Bengal and opening new avenues of cross-border trade with Nepal.

Strategic And Economic Dividends

Till now, the Siliguri Corridor remained India’s sole rail and road link to the Northeast. Any disruption in that narrow passage, whether due to natural calamities or hostile activity, posed the risk of cutting off the seven sister states. The new rail line is expected to serve as a parallel artery, facilitating swifter troop movement, goods trains, and passenger services, thereby minimising the risks associated with the Chicken Neck.

Locally, the line is expected to transform lives. Farmers anticipate cheaper and faster transportation of produce, while traders foresee greater access to markets across Bengal and Nepal. Employment opportunities, educational access, and migration to cities such as Delhi, Kolkata and Guwahati are also set to become easier.

For residents, the project has gone beyond infrastructure to symbolise the fulfilment of a decades-old aspiration. “We never imagined the train whistle would echo near our houses,” said Anwar, a resident. Qurban, another local, called the project “a true reflection of development under PM Modi”. Shamsul, a youth from Kishanganj, said the line will “change travel and trade forever” in the region.

Seemanchal’s New Journey

For a region often associated with backwardness and migration, the inauguration marks the beginning of a new narrative. The Araria–Galgalia line promises not only to ease the long wait of nearly two decades but also to infuse fresh hope in an area where infrastructural development has often lagged behind.

Other Projects In Bihar

Besides the rail line, PM Modi will also launch several other development projects worth over Rs 36,000 crore and address a public rally on Monday. He is also set to inaugurate a newly developed airport terminal in the north Bihar town, fulfilling the region’s long-standing demand for air connectivity.

The PM will also lay the foundation stone for a 3 x 800 MW thermal power project at Pirpainti, Bhagalpur. It will be Bihar’s largest private sector investment worth Rs 25,000 crore, the official said. Modi will lay the foundation stone for Phase 1 of the Kosi-Mechi Intra-State River Link Project worth over Rs 2,680 crore.

The PM will also participate in Griha Pravesh ceremonies for 35,000 rural beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin and 5,920 under Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Urban. He will hand over keys to a few beneficiaries of the housing project.

Modi will also distribute community investment funds of around Rs 500 crore to cluster-level federations under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission, in Bihar.