The proposed underground railway lines through the Guwahati, Siliguri corridor connecting the Northeast with the rest of the country will “provide unhindered movement of defense personnel, military equipment and emergency relief materials in emergency situations”, a spokesperson of the Northeast Frontier Railway said on Saturday.
Proposed Siliguri Corridor Underground Rail Line Critical for Movement During Emergency: NFRHe said the project, which will also support air-rail logistics integration, will be built using the latest technology and advanced engineering practices.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnab said on Monday that plans are underway to lay an underground railway along the Siliguri corridor.
The strategic corridor known as the ‘Chicken’s Neck’ is a strip of land in the Siliguri region of North West Bengal, with a width of over 20 km. The strip is sandwiched between Nepal and Bangladesh, with Bhutan and China a few hundred kilometers apart.
“The underground rail line will be crucial given the corridor’s proximity to international borders with Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh, as well as the risk of natural disasters, traffic congestion and security-related disruptions,” NFR chief spokesperson Kopinjal Kishore Sharma said.
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“The underground alignment will provide a secure and invisible alternative route, enabling uninterrupted movement of defense personnel, military equipment and emergency relief materials during emergencies,” he maintained.
Sharma said the project would also support air-rail logistics integration due to its proximity to the Bagdogra Air Force Station and the Bengdubi Army Cantonment of the Indian Army’s 33 Corps.
The chief spokesperson further said that modern technology and advanced engineering methods are being adopted for the project.
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“The project proposes a 2×25 kV AC electrification system, automatic signaling with VOIP-based communication on OFC and quad cable, bridge designed for RDSO 25-tonne axle load standard and twin tunnels using NATM tunnel with NATM tunnel using tunnel boring machine method,” he added for the crossover.
The proposed underground line will extend from Tin Mile Hut to Rangapani and then to Bagdogra.
The project falls under the Katihar division of the NFR and spans parts of Darjeeling and North Dinajpur districts of West Bengal and Kishanganj district of Bihar.
“Strongly rooted in the national interest, the project will play an important role in strengthening the security, resilience and long-term connectivity of the Northeast region, in line with the central government’s vision for integrated and secure infrastructure development,” Sharma added.
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