Last Updated:February 04, 2026, 00:05 IST Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s description of the project as a “major strategic breakthrough” highlights its national security dimension. Representative Image The Centre’s proposal to construct an underground railway line through the Siliguri Corridor, India’s slender land bridge connecting the Northeast with the rest of the country, marks one of the most strategically significant infrastructure initiatives in recent years. Often referred to as the “Chicken’s Neck,” the corridor narrows to just 20–25 km at its thinnest point and is bordered by Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh, while lying in close proximity to China, making it one of India’s most geopolitically sensitive regions. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s description of the project as a “major strategic breakthrough” highlights its national security dimension. For decades, India’s reliance on surface rail and road networks in this corridor has been viewed as a critical vulnerability, exposed to natural disruptions, sabotage or escalation during geopolitical tensions. Any prolonged disruption could effectively sever the Northeast, encompassing states such as Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and …