India bets Rs20bn into ‘chicken’s neck’ highway

India’s central government has allocated Rs 20 billion to construct a 31-kilometre, four-lane highway through the strategically important Siliguri Corridor, popularly known as the “Chicken’s Neck.”

According to Indian media outlet The Telegraph, the new highway will run parallel to a section of National Highway 27 and is expected to strengthen connectivity between India’s northeastern states and the rest of the country.

Indian Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari announced the funding in a Facebook post on Thursday.

He said the highway, designated National Highway 327 (NH-327), will run 31.02 kilometres from Bagdogra to Galgalia in Bihar via Panitanki and Kharibari. It will be constructed around 20-30 kilometres from NH-27.

Galgalia is located in Bihar’s Kishanganj district, while Panitanki, in West Bengal’s Darjeeling district, is a major route for travel to Nepal. Gadkari said the project would also improve connectivity with Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh.

The Siliguri Corridor is a narrow stretch of Indian territory connecting the country’s northeastern states with the rest of India. The corridor runs close to the borders of Nepal and Bangladesh, while China and Bhutan are also situated nearby.

The corridor is around 60 kilometres long, with its narrowest section measuring approximately 20-22 kilometres wide. Given its strategic location, it is considered highly important to India’s security.

The highway project will include three major bridges, one overbridge, five underpasses for elephant crossings and service lanes on both sides.

The Telegraph reported that over the past two years, particularly following the political changes in Bangladesh in August 2024, the Indian government has been seeking to strengthen defence infrastructure and connectivity around the Siliguri Corridor.

As part of the broader infrastructure push, India has also announced plans for a high-speed rail corridor between Varanasi and New Jalpaiguri and a 35-kilometre underground railway project near Siliguri.

The Railway Ministry has additionally approved another railway line connecting Malda with New Jalpaiguri, according to the report.