India plans 40-km underground rail line along strategic 'Chicken's Neck' corridor

India is planning to construct underground railway tracks along a 40-kilometre strategic corridor in West Bengal – known as the "Chicken's Neck" – to strengthen connectivity between the country's northeastern states and the rest of India, Indian Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said.

The Chicken's Neck, named for its narrow, tapering shape, is a vital strip of land in the Siliguri region of northern West Bengal. Measuring just over 20 km at its widest point, the corridor lies between Nepal and Bangladesh, with Bhutan and China located a few hundred kilometres away, making it one of India's most sensitive strategic zones.

Speaking via video conference while outlining the railway ministry's budget allocations, Vaishnaw said a "special plan" has been drawn up for the corridor. The Union budget for FY 2026–27 was presented on Sunday (1 February).

Providing further details, Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) General Manager Chetan Kumar Shrivastava and Chief Administrative Officer (Construction) Hitendra Goyal said the underground stretch will run between the Teen Mile Haat and Rangapani railway stations in West Bengal.

"This underground section is important from a security perspective," Shrivastava said, adding that one of the lines will extend towards Bagdogra, a location considered critical for India's air defence infrastructure.

According to Shrivastava, the tracks will be laid approximately 20–24 metres below ground across largely plain terrain. 

Goyal noted that, in addition to the underground construction, the existing double-track line in the corridor will be upgraded to a four-line overground section.

Once completed, the project will provide six railway lines through the corridor – four above ground and two underground – significantly enhancing capacity and resilience, officials said.