How India Fortifies 'Chicken's Neck': Underground Railways, Military Bunkers, Rafales and More

India is ramping up efforts to fortify the strategically important Siliguri Corridor, popularly known as the “Chicken’s Neck”, with plans for underground military infrastructure, hardened command and ammunition facilities, stronger air capabilities and alternative connectivity routes to the northeast.

Located in the northern part of West Bengal, the corridor is just over 22 km wide at its narrowest point and serves as a vital land link between mainland India and the northeastern states. The corridor, wedged between Nepal and Bangladesh, with Bhutan and China nearby, is among India’s most strategically vulnerable areas.

40 km of underground railway corridor planned

India is planning a 40-km underground rail corridor through the Siliguri Corridor to ensure safe and uninterrupted connectivity with the Northeast, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said.

The proposed underground link aims to create a more resilient transport route through an area that could face disruption in the event of a military conflict.

Army plans underground munitions, command centers

India is also seeking to move key military assets underground in a strategically sensitive corridor.

According to a CNN-News18 report, the military plans to build 12 underground ammunition depots for air defense units, along with underground depots for ammunition used by the Smerch long-range missile system.

The plans also include 21 surface firing positions, five underground command centers, six communications centers and 12 anti-aircraft shelters, the report said.

The army headquarters is also planning new military stations along the corridor, according to the report.

Underground infrastructure is intended to improve the survivability of critical military assets against missile attacks and other attacks during conflict.

Rafale fighters strengthen the air defense

Hasimara Air Force Station in West Bengal forms another key component of India’s defense posture around the corridor.

Hasimara is located near the strategic area and is home to the Indian Air Force’s 101 Squadron, known as the “Falcons of Chhambu and Akhnoor”, which operates Rafale fighter jets.

The squadron was formally commissioned at Hasimara in July 2021, giving India a strong air force close to one of its most strategically sensitive areas.

Why the ‘chicken neck’ matters

The Siliguri Corridor is the main land link between the rest of India and the Northeast.

Any major disruption to the corridor could affect the movement of troops, fuel, food, military equipment and other essential supplies into the region.

Its vulnerability has also prompted India to explore alternative routes of connectivity through Bangladesh and Myanmar, reducing dependence on a single narrow land link.

The Doklam standoff exposed a strategic vulnerability

India’s concerns about the corridor were underscored by the 2017 Doklam standoff, when Indian and Chinese troops clashed more than two months after China increased its military presence in the Doklam area near the India-Bhutan-China trinity.

China’s infrastructure development in the region, including roads and military installations, remains a major concern for Indian security planners.

Doklam’s proximity to the Siliguri corridor adds to the strategic importance of maintaining secure access to the northeast.

India is building alternative routes to the Northeast

In addition to fortifying the corridor, India is expanding infrastructure that could provide more resilient connectivity in the Northeast.

The economic committee of the government approved a ₹18,662 crore project for four lane green field connectivity with controlled access between Gohpur on NH-15 and Numaligarh on NH-715 in Assam.

The project includes a 15.79 km long road and rail tunnel under the Brahmaputra, described by the government as India’s first underwater road and rail tunnel.

The project is expected to improve connectivity to Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and other northeastern states while reducing travel time and improving cargo movement.

It also aims to reduce logistics costs and boost economic growth across the region.

Emergency runways, new military base

India is also strengthening its infrastructure that can support military operations during emergencies.

In February, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the emergency landing facility in Dibrugarh, Assam. A 4.2 km section of the highway was upgraded to allow military aircraft to land during emergencies.

India has also decided to set up a military base in Mizoram near the Bangladesh border, adding another layer to its security architecture in the Northeast.

Taken together, these measures reflect a broader strategy: fortifying the Siliguri Corridor itself, building underground military infrastructure, strengthening air power, and creating alternative transport links so that the Northeast is not dependent on a single vulnerable gateway.