Guwahati: India will soon lay underground railway tracks along the Siliguri corridor in West Bengal, a narrow strip of land that connects India’s northeast with the rest of the country, Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Monday.Known as the “chicken’s neck,” the corridor is barely 20 km–25 km wide at its narrowest point and is considered one of India’s most vulnerable strategic zones. The corridor is flanked by Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh, with China looming beyond.The move comes as Bangladesh’s interim leadership under Muhammad Yunus, along with several nationalist organizations, has openly spoken of “choking the chicken’s neck” to cut off India’s Northeast. Some voices have gone further, framing the region as part of a vision of “Greater Bangladesh.” Dhaka’s outreach to China near the Teesta River project has only deepened Indian concerns, with analysts warning that the rhetoric is not mere provocation but part of a geopolitical play.Vaishnaw, speaking via video conference on the union budget allocation for the railway ministry, with reporters here said, “There is special planning for the 40-km strategic corridor connecting the North East with the rest of the country. The planning is on to lay underground railway tracks and make the existing tracks four-line.”Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) General Manager Chetan Kumar Shrivastava added that the underground stretch will run between Tin Mile Haat and Rangapani stations in West Bengal. “This underground stretch is important from a security point of view,” he said.For India, the corridor has long been seen as its Achilles’ heel. During the 2017 Doklam standoff, military planners openly talked about the vulnerability of the Siliguri stretch. Any disruption here could isolate the Northeast, severing vital supply lines and troop movement. Bangladesh’s recent statements have revived those fears, underscoring the need for hardened infrastructure.By burying tracks underground and expanding capacity, New Delhi aims to ensure uninterrupted connectivity even in times of crisis. The plan is not just about railways—it is about signalling resolve. India is determined that its northeastern lifeline will not be jeopardized by external threats or internal vulnerabilities.Bangladesh’s rhetoric, meanwhile, has stirred debate in Dhaka itself. While nationalist groups push the “Greater Bangladesh” narrative, others warn that such posturing risks destabilizing ties with India, its largest neighbor and trading partner. Yet the symbolism of the chicken’s neck remains potent: a reminder that geography can be weaponized in South Asia’s fragile security landscape.
