Centre Approves Fourth Rail Line Through Siliguri’s 'Chicken's Neck'

In a major move to bolster rail links between Northeast India and the mainland, the central government has sanctioned a fourth railway line along the Malda-New Jalpaiguri route. According to Northeast Frontier Railway GM Chetan Kumar Shrivastava, expanding this narrow 60-km stretch—often referred to as the 'Chicken’s Neck'—is critical for both logistical efficiency and national security.

Upgraded from an earlier proposal for a third line, this new infrastructure is designed to accommodate surging freight and passenger demands. Additionally, the region will benefit from a new 29-km double-line underground rail project connecting Tinmai Ghat and Bagdogra. These major infrastructure initiatives follow a year of significant growth that saw the addition of 42 new trains and 250 stops, while the comprehensive redevelopment of the New Jalpaiguri station remains on track to be finished by 2027.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.