Kishanganj. There is a thin strip of North Bengal on the map of India, which the world knows as Siliguri Corridor or Chicken Neck. NH-31, rail line and air corridor pass from here. Bagdogra Airport, New Jalpaiguri Railway Junction and Kolkata-Guwahati Highway all pass through this corridor. 5 crore people of the North-East and the entire region are connected to the country through this strong thread. This is not an ordinary path, but a living symbol of India’s unity.
Even though its width may be only 20–22 kilometers at some places, from the strategic point of view this corridor is the most important link for India’s defence, trade, connectivity and development of the North-Eastern region. In other words, this corridor holds importance as the national lifeline connecting the North-East, which is located near the city of Siliguri in West Bengal. It connects the seven north-eastern states of India – Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh – with mainland India.
narrowest, strongest
The narrowest part is only 20-22 km wide from Sivok to Gajoldoba. But, this narrow area makes it strategically valuable. The Indian Army has deployed its most modern forces here – Trishakti Corps, Mountain Division, Air Defense Unit and SSB have a strong presence. After the Doklam crisis, the infrastructure here has been doubled. The total length of Siliguri Corridor is approximately 200 kilometers. Most of India’s military and civilian connectivity traffic passes through this route.
engine of trade and growth
The width of the Siliguri Corridor varies from place to place, but at its narrowest point it is limited to only 20 to 22 kilometers (about 12–14 miles), while its maximum width is close to 60 kilometers. Chicken Neck is not only of military importance but is also the center of development. The importance of this corridor also increases because India’s three friendly neighboring countries – Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh are located on both sides and the border of China is just a few hundred kilometers to the east. This geographical position makes it one of the most effective geo-strategic places in South Asia.
Act East Policy, Geopolitical Triangle
This region acts as a diplomatic bridge in terms of India’s Act East Policy, border cooperation and international trade. The entire emphasis of the Act East Policy is on this corridor. Siliguri is now becoming the biggest transit hub of the Northeast. Tea, oil, bamboo, fruits and tourism – everyone’s path passes through here. The Government of India has given it the status of ‘Strategic Gateway’. Now it is not just a connecting route, but an engine to make the North-East the economic capital of the country.
narrowest but strongest part
The narrowest part of the corridor is about 20–22 kilometers wide. This narrowness is not a challenge for India, but rather makes the strategic structure of this region more layered. There is a high level of army deployment, all-weather roads, air-bases, internet and hybrid military communication system further enhancing India’s defense infrastructure. Chicken neck is not a weakness – it is the most beautiful example of India’s foresight, unity and development. A 20 km wide path, but has the power to connect countless dreams.
Now not just a road, but an economic corridor
The expansion of rail, road and defense-based infrastructure over the past decade has transformed the corridor into not just a transit route but an economic powerhouse. If we look at the main projects here, Siliguri-Gangtok All-Weather Road, military-civilian expansion of Bagdogra Air Base, North Eastern Railway Broad-Gauge Network, India-Bangladesh Trade Corridor, industrial and tourism activities have also increased rapidly in the North East.
Northeast will become stronger in future
The Government of India is now working on a multi-layer access system, which includes rail, road, river-waterways and air-logistics. The goal is clear – to make North-East and South-East Asia the next center of India’s development model. In such a situation, it can be said that this is not a weakness, but a wonderful example of India’s strategic cleverness. Despite being only 20-22 km wide, this 180-200 km long corridor firmly connects the seven sisters of the North-East with the mainstream of the country. It is also the golden gate of India’s unity, trade and development.
