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India has approved a major infrastructure project to construct a 31.02-kilometre, four-lane highway through the strategically important Siliguri Corridor, popularly known as the “Chicken’s Neck,” near the Bangladesh border.
The central government has allocated Rs 2,077.18 crore (around Rs 20.8 billion) for the project, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari announced.
The new National Highway 327 (NH-327) will connect Galgalia in Bihar with Bagdogra in West Bengal, passing through Panitanki and Kharibari.
It will run roughly 20–30 kilometres parallel to National Highway 27, a key artery connecting mainland India with the northeastern states.
The Siliguri Corridor is a narrow strip of land that provides the main land connection between mainland India and India’s northeastern states.
The corridor is approximately 60 kilometres long and narrows to about 20–22 kilometres at its tightest point. It lies close to the borders of Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and China, making it strategically significant for India.
According to Gadkari, the project will strengthen connectivity with Northeast India while improving access to Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh.
The highway is also expected to ease congestion in Bagdogra, Naxalbari, Kharibari and Panitanki and improve access to Bagdogra Airport.
The project will include three major bridges, one road overbridge, five elephant underpasses and service roads on both sides of the highway. The infrastructure is also expected to facilitate faster transportation of agricultural, horticultural and tea products to larger markets.
The development is significant for Siliguri Corridor is considered one of India’s most strategically sensitive transportation routes.
The new highway will provide an additional road link in the region and is expected to strengthen both regional connectivity and the movement of goods and people.