Synopsis
India plans underground railway tracks along a 40-km strategic hall including the ‘Chicken’s Neck’. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma talked about the slim Siliguri hall has been venerable for intimidation. The proposed rail hyperlink goals to produce a procure transportation route connecting the Northeast with the relaxation of India. This initiative addresses a long-standing strategic vulnerability.
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AgenciesAssam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma
Guwahati: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma talked about Tuesday the ‘Chicken’s Neck’ residence has been venerable as an intimidation tactic for a long time by anti-nationwide forces, each internal and exterior India.
Sarma’s comments came a day after railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw talked about the Centre is planning to produce underground railway tracks along a 40-km strategic hall including the ‘Chicken’s Neck’.
Addressing journalists through video conferencing on the Union budget allocation for the railway ministry, Vaishnaw talked about, “There is particular planning for the 40-km strategic hall connecting the northeast with the relaxation of the nation.”
The Siliguri hall connecting the northeastern states to the relaxation of India is referred to because the ‘Chicken’s Neck’ spanning about 20–22 kms. It is a slim stretch of land in West Bengal, which shares deliver borders with Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bhutan, and is in conclude proximity to the Chinese border.
“Here is BIG,” Sarma talked about in X, reacting to the railway minister’s announcement. “For a long time, the “Chicken’s Neck” has been venerable as an intimidation tactic by anti-nationwide forces, each internal and former our borders. The proposed underground rail hyperlink marks a predominant strategic step forward, creating a procure and foolproof transportation hall between the Northeast and the relaxation of the nation.”
“Thanks to the decisive leadership of Prime Minister narendramodi Ji and Minister AshwiniVaishnaw Ji, we are taking a giant step towards mitigating this long-standing strategic vulnerability – one that, in hindsight, should have been addressed much earlier, perhaps even in the aftermath of 1971,” said Sarma.
There is concern amid reports that China is aiding Bangladesh in reviving a World War II airbase at Lalmonirhar, located close to the Indian border near Siliguri. The airbase is under control of the Bangladesh Air Force but inactive for decades.
Bangladesh interim government’s chief advisor Prof Muhammad Yunus had said in May 2025 that Dhaka was the only guardian of the seas for India’s landlocked Northeastern states.
During his four-day visit to China, Yunus said “Seven states of India, eastern part of India, called seven sisters, are landlocked country, landlocked region of India. They have no way to reach out to the ocean. We are the only guardian of the ocean for all this region. So, this opens a huge possibility. This could be an extension of the Chinese economy. Build things, produce things, market things, bring things to China, bring it out to the whole rest of the world.”
Earlier, the Assam CM had said, “I will request the Government of India to explore the possibility of underground railways and roadways below the Chicken’s Neck and in future even one alternate route by passing Chicken’s Neck can come up through Bhutan can be explored.”
