Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday hailed the Centre’s proposal to build an underground railway line through the Siliguri Corridor as a significant strategic move that would reinforce both connectivity and security in the North-East.
Commenting on the plan to develop underground rail infrastructure along the sensitive stretch—commonly referred to as the ‘Chicken’s Neck’—Sarma said the corridor has historically been vulnerable to threats and pressure from anti-national elements.
“For years, the Siliguri Corridor has been used as a tool of intimidation by forces hostile to the nation, operating from within and outside our borders. The proposed underground railway project represents a major strategic advancement, ensuring a secure and reliable transport link between the North-East and the rest of India,” the Chief Minister said in a post on X.
He acknowledged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for taking steps to address what he described as a long-ignored strategic weakness.
“Under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Hon’ble Railway Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, the country is finally moving to resolve a strategic vulnerability that, in retrospect, should have been dealt with much earlier—possibly even after 1971,” Sarma noted.
According to the Chief Minister, the initiative will enhance national security while ensuring smooth and uninterrupted transportation for the northeastern states.
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday said the Centre is working on plans to construct underground railway tracks along a 40-km strategic section of the Siliguri Corridor in West Bengal to improve connectivity with the North-East.
Speaking to the media via video conference while outlining the Railway Ministry’s Union Budget provisions, Vaishnaw said the corridor has been identified as a priority area.
“There is focused planning for the 40-km strategic stretch linking the North-East with the rest of the country. The proposal includes laying underground railway tracks and expanding the existing rail network to four lines,” he said.
The Siliguri Corridor plays a crucial role in logistics and national defence as the sole land route connecting mainland India with the northeastern region. Reports suggest the underground segment may extend between Tin Mile Haat and Rangapani railway stations in West Bengal.
The proposal comes amid increased emphasis on developing infrastructure in strategically sensitive border areas.
Located in West Bengal, the Siliguri Corridor is a narrow stretch measuring approximately 20–22 km in width and connects mainland India to the northeastern states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura. Owing to its military and geopolitical importance, it has long been considered a strategically critical region.
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