Northeast's New Rail Route Via Bangladesh To Bypass 'Chicken's Neck'

northeast's new rail route via bangladesh to bypass 'chicken's neck'

Jalpaiguri: India plans to construct a new railway network via Bangladesh to link the Northeastern states directly with the rest of the country. This initiative aims to reduce reliance on the current route through the Siliguri Corridor, also known as the "Chicken's Neck," which is a narrow strip of land 22 kilometres wide, bordered by Nepal to the north and Bangladesh to the south.

The aim is to bypass the Chicken's Neck by routing through Bangladesh, leveraging the India-Bangladesh Trade Agreement of 1980

During the 2017 Doklam standoff between India and China, the narrow Siliguri Corridor, which hosts a crucial railway line for both military and civilian transport, raised significant concerns as the corridor sits below the conflict zone.

The project will include 14 new railway routes linking Bangladesh, covering a distance of 861 kilometres, and alternative routes connecting to the Northeast, making the total length of approved tracks 1,275.5 kilometres. The initiative will involve gauging conversion of existing tracks and constructing new ones in Bangladesh.

"Besides reducing travel time from Kolkata to the Northeast, the new railway network will also enhance communication with Bangladesh. It will boost trade and tourism activities between the neighbouring countries," said Sabyasachi De, CPRO of Northeast Frontier Railway, according to TOI.