The West Bengal government led by Suvendu Adhikari has decided to transfer 120 acres of land in the strategically sensitive 'Chicken Neck' corridor to the Centre,
reports said on Tuesday. As per reports, the process of handing over the land is currently underway. The narrow Siliguri Corridor, commonly known as the 'Chicken Neck', connects mainland India to the northeastern states and is considered one of the country's most strategically crucial stretches due to its proximity to international borders. The decision is a major development from a national security perspective. The corridor, located around Siliguri, is a narrow strip of land bordered by Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh, while also lying relatively close to China's Tibet region, making it one of India's most strategically sensitive stretches. At certain points, the corridor narrows to barely 20-22 kilometres, making it strategically vulnerable in the event of any military or geopolitical crisis. It is also the country's only narrow land link connecting the northeastern states to the rest of the country. Any move involving land in this region is therefore seen as highly significant. The route serves as the lifeline for transportation, trade, military movement and supply chains to the eight northeastern states. Because of its immense strategic value, the corridor has long remained central to India's defence planning and border security strategy. The Centre has not yet officially clarified the exact purpose behind the land transfer. Such a move could potentially pave the way for defence infrastructure, logistics hubs, connectivity expansion or security-related projects in the region. The development comes shortly after Suvendu Adhikari was sworn in as Chief Minister following the BJP's landmark victory in the West Bengal Assembly elections - a breakthrough widely seen as the party's biggest political success in the state in decades. Since taking office, the Suvendu government has moved aggressively on multiple fronts, including administrative reshuffles, law-and-order measures, probes into alleged irregularities linked to Trinamool Congress leaders, and decisions tied to governance and strategic coordination with the Centre.
