Securing The Chicken’s Neck: Why India’s Underground Rail Plan Is Strategically Crucial

The Centre’s proposal to construct an underground railway line through the Siliguri Corridor, India’s slender land bridge connecting the Northeast with the rest of the country, marks one of the most strategically

significant infrastructure initiatives in recent years.

Often referred to as the “Chicken’s Neck,” the corridor narrows to just 20–25 km at its thinnest point and is bordered by Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh, while lying in close proximity to China, making it one of India’s most geopolitically sensitive regions.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s description of the project as a “major strategic breakthrough” highlights its national security dimension.

For decades, India’s reliance on surface rail and road networks in this corridor has been viewed as a critical vulnerability, exposed to natural disruptions, sabotage or escalation during geopolitical tensions. Any prolonged disruption could effectively sever the Northeast, encompassing states such as Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Mizoram, from the mainland.

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw’s announcement of a specially designed underground rail corridor of nearly 40 km signals a shift from purely capacity-driven infrastructure to security-focused connectivity.

A key component of the plan is a proposed 22-km underground stretch between Tin Mile Haat and Rangapani in West Bengal, positioned 20-24 metres below ground. Officials from the Northeast Frontier Railway have stressed that this alignment, largely passing through plain terrain, is particularly critical from a security perspective.

Equally important is the proposal to expand existing surface railway lines in the Siliguri Corridor to four tracks, significantly improving redundancy and operational resilience.

Together, the underground route and expanded surface network are intended to ensure uninterrupted movement of civilians, goods and strategic assets, even during emergencies or conflict scenarios.

The timing of the project adds to its importance. With sharpening regional competition, evolving border dynamics and the Northeast’s rising economic and strategic relevance, especially under India’s Act East policy, the risks of maintaining the status quo have grown substantially.

Protecting the Siliguri Corridor is no longer just about improving connectivity; it is central to preserving India’s territorial cohesion.