Fourth rail line approved through strategic 'Chicken's Neck' corridor: official

New Delhi, A fourth railway line through the strategically significant Chicken's Neck corridor has received approval from the Centre, announced a senior official. The Malda-New Jalpaiguri section, a vital rail corridor linking the Northeast with the rest of the country, forms the core of this project. Although a third line had previously been proposed for this corridor, the decision to greenlight a fourth line now stands firm.

The nearly 29-km underground project connecting Tinmai Ghat and Bagdogra is another key infrastructure development, Shrivastava said during a press conference. Given the region's strategic importance, the railways has put special focus on boosting the corridor's capacity. The Chicken's Neck, also known as the Siliguri Corridor, is a narrow strip of land approximately 20-22 km wide and about 60 km long in north Bengal that bridges the northeastern states with the rest of India. It is deemed a critical and sensitive lifeline from both security and logistical viewpoints.

With the completion of the projects, the entire rail corridor will undergo a major transformation, leading to organized growth in the area, according to Shrivastava. Work on doubling the line in the Barsoi section is underway, while infrastructure expansion is taking place across the Katihar division to accommodate increasing passenger and freight traffic. In the previous year, 42 new trains were introduced on various routes, and around 250 new stoppages were added to enhance passenger convenience.

The redevelopment of the New Jalpaiguri station is progressing rapidly and is expected to be completed by April 2027. Efforts are also being made to introduce new local train services from Jogbani, Radhikapur, and Balurghat, which are anticipated to improve connectivity for passengers in border and remote areas. Additionally, 100% electrification of the NFR network has been achieved, and work is being expedited to expand the operation of electric trains.

Plans are in place to extend Vande Bharat train services beyond Guwahati to Tinsukia and Agartala, with services operating in both directions, providing Northeast passengers with faster and more comfortable rail travel.