Guwahati, February 8: Indian Railways is set to enhance connectivity in the Northeast by constructing a new Underground Railway line. This line will traverse the Siliguri Corridor, commonly referred to as the ‘Chicken Neck’ in northern Bengal.
According to Kapinjhal Kishore Sharma, Chief Public Relations Officer of Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR), the underground route will extend from Tinmile Hat in Darjeeling district to Rangapani and Bagdogra.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasized that the project’s goal is to provide safe, reliable, and continuous rail connectivity in this strategically important corridor.
The NFR’s Katihar division will oversee the project, which will cover areas in the Darjeeling and Uttar Dinajpur districts of West Bengal, as well as Kishanganj district in Bihar.
This underground line will stretch 35.76 kilometers between Dumdangi and Bagdogra, including a 33.40-kilometer segment from Dumdangi to Rangapani. This alignment will strengthen connectivity through the 22-kilometer Siliguri Corridor, linking mainland India to the Northeast.
Given its proximity to the borders of Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh, as well as its vulnerability to natural disasters and security risks, this underground line is deemed highly significant. It will provide a secure alternative route for defense personnel, military equipment, and emergency relief supplies.
The project will facilitate air-rail logistics integration due to its location near Bagdogra Air Force Station and Bengdubi Army Cantonment.
Advanced technologies will be employed, including a 2×25 kV AC electrification system, VOIP-based communication with automatic signaling (Standard-4), bridges designed according to RDSO 25-ton axle load standards, and two tunnels constructed using Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) and New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM) techniques.
The development of this underground line reflects Indian Railways‘ commitment to enhancing strategic infrastructure in the Northeast and aligns with the Indian government’s vision for integrated and secure development. NFR, headquartered in Maligaon near Guwahati, operates across the Northeast states, seven districts of West Bengal, and five districts of northern Bihar.