Siliguri Corridor

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The Siliguri Corridor is the strip of Indian territory within the red highlighted circle. Chickensneckindia.jpg
The Siliguri Corridor is the strip of Indian territory within the red highlighted circle.
AH2 of the Asian Highway goes through the Siliguri Corridor. Siliguri Corridor sketch with Asian Highway segment.jpg
AH2 of the Asian Highway goes through the Siliguri Corridor.
Dimensions of the corridor. Distances in kilometers. Siliguri corridor variations in measurement.jpg
Dimensions of the corridor. Distances in kilometers.

The Siliguri Corridor, often dubbed the "Chicken's Neck", is a stretch of land around the city of Siliguri in West Bengal state of India. [1] [2] It is the sole terrestrial connection between India's mainland and its eight northeastern states, serving as a logistical lifeline for over 40 million people and crucial military movements. [3] [1] Bordered by Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh, it lies close to Tibet's Chumbi Valley to its northeast. [4] [5] [6] The city of Siliguri is the major city in the area and the central transfer point connecting Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sikkim, Darjeeling, Northeast India and mainland India. [4]

Contents

History

The partition of India led to the formation of the Siliguri Corridor through the creation of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) after the partition of Bengal (into East Bengal and West Bengal) in 1947–1948. [7]

The Kingdom of Sikkim formerly lay on the northern side of the corridor, until its union with India in 1975 via a publicly held referendum. [8] [9] From Sikkim, India consolidated its control of the Chumbi Valley, along with Bhutan. [10] [11]

Geography

The dimensions of the corridor are a matter of interpretation. [12] Descriptions give it an area of 170 by 60 km (106 by 37 mi) with the narrowest section being 20–22 km (12–14 mi). [1] [2] Kamal Jit Singh places the length at 200 km (120 mi) with a width of 17 to 60 km (11 to 37 mi), giving it an area of approximately 12,200 km2 (4,700 sq mi). [12] Another description places its dimensions as approximately 200 km (120 mi) in length and 20 to 60 km (12 to 37 mi) wide, also giving it an area of approximately 12,200 km2 (4,700 sq mi). [13]

The corridor is located between Bangladesh to the southwest, Nepal on the northwest, and Bhutan to the north. [14] Between Sikkim and Bhutan lies the Chumbi Valley Tibetan territory. [15] The southern end of the Dolam plateau or Doklam tri boundary area slopes into the corridor. [16] At the narrowest stretch, the corridor is generally formed by the Mechi River in the east; Nepal's Bhadrapur lies on the banks of the river. [17] Further north the Mechi Bridge connects Mechinagar. [18] [19]

Vulnerability mitigation by India

To mitigate the vulnerability India has undertaken several initiatives including enhancing security deployment as well as undertaking infrastructure development. To ensure seamless connectivity and military mobilization, India has prioritized developing high-capacity infrastructure in and around the corridor, notably under the Bharatmala Pariyojana. Projects include: [6]

Connectivity

India has embarked on a slew of projects. These include the construction of India-China Border Roads, where, as of 2024, multiple phases of border roads have been constructed, and Advance Landing Grounds (ALGs), such as the Nyoma Advanced Landing Ground, which is nearing completion as of 2024. [21] [22] [23] Other projects include Northeastern India connectivity and Look-East transnational connectivity projects including BIMSTEC and BBIN to create multiple alternatives to Silliguri corridor, including through Bangladesh and the sea.

All land transportation between the rest of India and its far northeastern states uses this corridor. The route has a major broad gauge railway line. Electrification of this double-track corridor is in progress with assistance from the Central Organization for Railway Electrification (CORE). Additionally, the old metre gauge line (recently converted to a 1.676 metres (5 ft 6.0 in) broad-gauge line) connects Siliguri Junction with Islampur in the North Dinajpur district of West Bengal, via Bagdogra (the only airport of national interest in the corridor) and the bordering towns of Adhikari, Galgalia, Thakurganj, Naxalbari and Taiabpur with Nepal. As of 2024, to reduce dependence on the Siliguri Corridor, India is planning to build railway lines through Jogbani in Bihar, which would enter Biratnagar in Nepal and then connect with New Mal Junction in West Bengal. [24] India is also developing railway lines through Bangladesh, which includes constructing new railway tracks and the gauge conversion of existing railway tracks, in order to reduce dependence on the Siliguri Corridor, as of 2024. [25]

As of 2024, there is no free-trade agreement between Bangladesh and India. [26] The Tetulia Corridor, an alternative to the Siliguri Corridor, is proposed under Article VIII of the India–Bangladesh Trade Agreement 1980, which states that "The two governments agree to make mutually beneficial arrangements for the use of their waterways, railways and roadways for commerce between the two countries and for passage of goods between two places in one country through the territory of the other". [27] However, the opening of the Tetulia Corridor is still being discussed politically as of 2019. [27]

Security

The threat of a Chinese advance is still considered by Indian planners. [28] A Chinese military advance of less than 130 km (81 mi) would cut off Bhutan, part of West Bengal and all of North-East India, an area containing almost 50 million people. This situation arose during the war between India and China in 1962. [15] The security threat to this corridor was heightened during the 2017 Doklam incident. [29] The probability of China cutting off seven states in northeast India has been questioned. [30] The Indian Army has said that the Siliguri Corridor is the Army's strongest defensive line. [31]

Military Bases and Deployment: India has several forces stationed on the borders, the Indian Army and Indo-Tibetan Border Police man the border with China; Sashastra Seema Bal is deployed along the border with Nepal and Bhutan and the Border Security Force for Bangladesh. [12] The strip is also patrolled by the Indian Army, the Assam Rifles, and state police forces including the West Bengal Police. [12] The security threat posed by the corridor decreased following the creation of Bangladesh in 1971. [28] Internal threats to the corridor are numerous. [28] Militant groups known to have used the corridor include the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN). [13]

Anti-India hardliners in Bangladesh and Pakistan refer to Siliguri Corridor are India's Chicken's neck, while both nations have their own more vulnerable chicken's necks along the respective border with India. [35] [36]

Bangladesh

Bangladeshi National Citizen Party's leader Hasnat Abdullah has rhetorically threatened to cut off India's northeastern states by cutting off India's chicken's neck, i.e. Siliguri Corridor, while downplaying India's contribution in 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. [37] [38] While India has two chicken's neck, Bangladesh also has the following two chicken's neck along its border with India. Both of these, comprising 34.2% or 50,715 km2 Bangladesh's total territory, are narrower and more vulnerable than India's Siliguri Corridor or Tripura Corridor, and contribute 30-45% to economy of Bangladesh and 80% of Bangladesh's total export-import is through Chittagong Port in this vulnerable area. [35] [36] In response to rhetoric from certain Bangladeshi political figures and hardliners highlighting India's "Chicken's Neck" vulnerability, Indian leaders have pointed out that Bangladesh itself possesses two narrow land corridors that are geographically isolated and potentially more vulnerable. [39] These counter-vulnerabilities, which could be exploited in the event of aggression, are described as North Bangladesh Corridor (Rangpur Division) and Chittagong Corridor (a slender strip, reportedly 28 kilometres at its narrowest, connecting the port city of Chittagong - the economic capital- with the political capital of Dhaka). [39] This diplomatic and strategic counter-narrative serves as a warning that any hostile action aimed at the Siliguri Corridor could result in severe repercussions for Bangladesh's own territorial integrity and economic connectivity. [40]

Pakistan

Akhnoor Bulge [48] (named "Akhnoor Dagger" by Pakistani Military, [49] [50] and as "Pakistan's Akhnoor Chicken's neck Corridor" by Indian Military) [50] [51] [52] a narrow strip of Pakistani territory that extends into the Indian administered-Jammu and Kashmir south of Akhnoor. This sensitive piece of land, which lies on the de facto Indo–Pakistani border on the west side of the disputed region of Jammu and Kashmir, is part of Punjab Province's Sialkot District and measures roughly 170 km2 (66 sq mi). [50] [51] [52] However, this Akhnoor Bulge being a "dagger" or India's "Chicken's Neck" vulnerability, as perceived by Pakistan in 1965, has since been described by some analysts as a strategic myth, "the so-called 'Chicken's Neck' or Akhnoor Dagger area... proved to be a liability for Pakistan rather than an asset in the 1971 war when Indian forces successfully captured the area". [53] This is evidenced by India's swift 1971 capture of the area, which effectively negated the perceived threat to Akhnoor. [54] Any perceived vulnerability of India is further mitigated by improved infrastructure development by India, which now has many more high-capacity bridges and numerous alternate transport links connecting Jammu to Akhnoor and India to wider Jammu and Kashmir region, providing redundancy and resilience to the military supply lines. [55] In fact, the area has been argued to be a Pakistani vulnerability, as the land is a narrow doab between the Chenab and Tawi rivers surrounded by India from three sides, and is further doubly-isolated from the rest of Pakistan by the Chenab–Munawar Tawi doab to its southwest within Pakistan. [53]

Humphrey Hawksley, in his 2000 novel Dragon Fire, briefly authors a situation where China cuts off India's land route to its northeastern territories. [13] Assassin's Mace (2011) by Brigadier Bob Butalia also involves such a situation involving Doklam and Jaldhaka River. [12]

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Singh, Mayank (7 November 2021). "Army steps up efforts to safeguard Siliguri Corridor". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  2. 1 2 Singh, Mohinder Pal (9 October 2019). "What if China wrings India's 'Chicken's Neck' – the Siliguri corridor? Here are some countermeasures". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 18 January 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2022– via USI India.
  3. 1 2 "India's New Military Bases Along the Siliguri Corridor: Strategic Defense or Signal Of Changing Regional Dynamics? – Analysis". Eurasia Review. 25 November 2025.
  4. 1 2 "Chickens neck". The Times of India. 3 July 2017. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 4 April 2025.
  5. ↑ Sethi, Sunil (18 February 2015). "Status of Sikkim and its deposed monarch Palden Thondup Namgyal being questioned again". India Today. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Siliguri Corridor". GKToday. 31 May 2025.
  7. ↑ Atig Ghosh, The Importance of Being Siliguri (2018), p. 136.
  8. ↑ "Sikkim Votes On Indian Merger". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. 15 April 1975. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  9. ↑ "Sikkim Voters OK Merger With India". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. 16 April 1975. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  10. ↑ Gupta, Shishir (30 October 2019). "China's early harvest plan on Sikkim border has no takers in India". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  11. ↑ Srivastava, Utkarsh (7 July 2017). "Sikkim standoff: Strategic importance of Siliguri corridor and why India should be wary of China". Firstpost. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 Singh, Lt Gen (Retd) KJ (9 July 2017). "India ready, theoretically: 'Threats' to Siliguri Corridor war-gamed". Tribune India. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  13. 1 2 3 Bhattacharya, Pinaki (2001). "The Shiliguri Corridor: Question Mark on Security". South Asia Terrorism Portal. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  14. ↑ Marcus Franda, "Bangladesh, The First Decades", South Asian Publishers Pvt. Ltd, New Delhi, 1982, p-126
  15. 1 2 Partha S. Ghosh, "Cooperation and Conflict in South Asia", UPL, Dhaka, 1989, p-43
  16. ↑ Myers, Steven Lee; Barry, Ellen; Fisher, Max (26 July 2017). "How India and China Have Come to the Brink Over a Remote Mountain Pass". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  17. ↑ Dixit, Kanak Mani (1 August 2002). "Chicken's Neck". Himal Southasian . Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  18. ↑ "Approval of MoU between India & Nepal for laying down implementation arrangement for construction of new Bridge over Mechi River at Indo-Nepal border". Business Standard India. 23 August 2017. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  19. ↑ Khanal, Radha (26 November 2020). "Asian Highway now connected with Nepal". The Annapurna Express. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  20. ↑ "Siliguri Corridor and India's Strategic Connectivity". Current Affairs Usthadian Academy. 3 August 2025.
  21. ↑ "Boost for security forces! Phase 3 of India-China border roads project started; to give impetus to road network in eastern Ladakh". The Times of India. 29 July 2024. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 5 April 2025.
  22. ↑ Sharma, Shivani (2 November 2024). "India's highest airfield in Ladakh almost complete, to boost security near LAC". India Today. Retrieved 5 April 2025.
  23. ↑ Pandit, Rajat (5 October 2024). "China outpacing India in technology, defence production & infrastructure, says IAF chief". The Times of India. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 5 April 2025.
  24. ↑ Bhattacharya, Pinak Priya (16 July 2024). "India plans rail tracks through Nepal to bypass Chicken's Neck". The Times of India. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 7 April 2025.
  25. ↑ Bhattacharya, Pinak Priya (16 June 2024). "New rail lines for Northeast via Bangladesh to bypass 'Chicken's Neck'". The Times of India. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 7 April 2025.
  26. ↑ "Bangladesh crisis: How trade with India could face major disruptions". India Today. 6 August 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
  27. 1 2 Sarkar, Debasis (12 March 2019). "India to India Tetulia corridor to resurface as a major election issue". The Economic Times. ISSN   0013-0389 . Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  28. 1 2 3 Joshi, Manoj (10 July 2017). "Chink In The Checker's Board". ORF/ Outlook. Archived from the original on 3 October 2018.
  29. ↑ Singh, D. K. (11 August 2018). "This is the first official account of the India-China face-off in Doklam". ThePrint. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  30. ↑ Asthana, Alok (1 August 2017). "Does It Make Military Sense for India to Mount the Barricades at Doklam?". The Wire. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  31. 1 2 3 Sharma, Shivani (4 April 2025). Jha, Anuja (ed.). "India fortifies 'Chicken's Neck' as Bangladesh, China eye strategic corridor". India Today. Retrieved 4 April 2025.
  32. ↑ "Shielding the Eastern Frontier: India Strengthens Siliguri Corridor, Establishes Three New Garrisons". Raksha Anirveda. 14 November 2025.
  33. 1 2 Trivedi, Saurabh (16 November 2025). "India strengthens eastern defences with three new garrisons near Siliguri 'Chicken's Neck'". The Hindu.
  34. ↑ "India sets up three new military garrisons along Bangladesh border to fortify 'Chicken's Neck'". The Economic Times. 8 November 2025.
  35. 1 2 3 4 भारत के 'टू नेक ट्रैप' में आया बांग्लादेश तो बड़ा भू-भाग खो देगा यूनुस का देश!, MSN News, 10 Dec 2025.
  36. 1 2 3 4 Bangladesh has '2 chicken necks', far more vulnerable, says Himanta Sarma, Business Standard, 26 May 2025.
  37. ↑ Bangladesh's student leader Hasnat Abdullah threatens to isolate India's seven sisters if country is destabilised, UNI, 16 Dec 2025.
  38. ↑ Bangladesh student leader warns India—’will isolate Seven Sisters, give refuge to separatists’, ThePrint, 16 Dec 2025.
  39. 1 2 Singh, Rimjhim (26 May 2025). "Bangladesh has '2 chicken necks', far more vulnerable, says Himanta Sarma". Business Standard.
  40. ↑ "After Muhammad Yunus's 'landlocked' jibe, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma maps out Bangladesh's vulnerable 'chicken necks'". Telegraph India. 26 May 2025.
  41. ↑ Can South Asia Unstrangle the Chicken’s Neck?, World Bank, 26 June 2019.
  42. ↑ The Chittagong Hill Tracts Commission (2000). 'Life Is Not Ours': Land and Human Rights in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh – Update 4 (Report). International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs. p. 20.
  43. ↑ Chakma, Kabita; Hill, Glen (2013). "Indigenous Women and Culture in the Colonized Chittagong Hills Tracts of Bangladesh". In Visweswaran, Kamala (ed.). Everyday Occupations: Experiencing Militarism in South Asia and the Middle East. University of Pennsylvania Press. pp. 132–157. ISBN   978-0812244878.
  44. 1 2 Yegar, Moshe (1972). Muslims of Burma. Wiesbaden: Verlag Otto Harrassowitz. p. 96.
  45. ↑ Hodal, Kate (20 December 2012). "Trapped inside Burma's refugee camps, the Rohingya people call for recognition". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 1 August 2017. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
  46. ↑ "Myanmar Army Evacuates Villagers, Teachers From Hostilities in Maungdaw". Radio Free Asia. Archived from the original on 17 October 2016. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  47. ↑ Bangladesh will not let in any more Rohingya refugees, reuters, 7 Feb 2024.
  48. ↑ "Srinagar airbase is vulnerable to Pakistan attack. These are ways to secure it". ThePrint. 21 May 2025. Retrieved 10 December 2025. Future PAF operations, potentially coordinated with ground manoeuvres from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) or a thrust into the Akhnoor Bulge, could involve a larger, more sustained assault.
  49. ↑ P. S. Bhagat (1974) [1966]. The Shield and the Sword: India 1965 and After, the New Dimensions (2nd ed.). Vikas. ISBN   9780706902914.
  50. 1 2 3 JS Sodhi (2024). China's War Clouds: The Great Chinese Checkmate. Blue Rose. pp.  114-115. ISBN   9789362614575.
  51. 1 2 A tale of two ‘Chicken’s Necks’: How India’s armed forces kept Pakistan and China at bay, Scroll.in, 29 Feb 2020.
  52. 1 2 A strategic grip on the Chicken's neck, deccanherald.com, 17 July 2025.
  53. 1 2 Pattanaik, Smruti S. (May 2018). "The Role of Geography in India–Pakistan Conflict". Security and Foreign Policy Journal. 2 (1): 45–58.
  54. ↑ Singh, Lt Gen RK Jasbir (October–December 2021). "Battle of Chhamb: Indo-Pak War 1971" (PDF). United Service Institution of India. The Indian move into the Chicken's Neck... negated the 'dagger' threat to Akhnoor.
  55. ↑ "Akhnoor to Jammu Connectivity Boost: New Bridge Project Sanctioned". Times Now. 12 March 2024. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
Bibliography

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