India, Aug. 14 -- A fourth railway line through the strategically important 'Chicken's Neck', also known as the Siliguri Corridor, has been approved by the Centre, a senior official said. Northeast Frontier Railway General Manager Chetan Kumar Shrivastava said the Malda-New Jalpaiguri section is a crucial rail corridor connecting the Northeast with other parts of the country. "A third line had earlier been proposed for the section, but approval has now been accorded for a fourth line as well. In addition, the nearly 29-km double-line underground project between Tinmai Ghat and Bagdogra is another important infrastructure initiative," he said, addressing a press conference on Wednesday night. Also Read - TVK welcomes SC's stay of Madras HC ruling against jobs to kin of stampede victims Given the strategic importance of the region, the railways is laying special emphasis on enhancing the capacity of the corridor, he said. The 'Chicken's Neck' is a narrow stretch of land -- about 20-22 km wide and nearly 60 km long -- in north Bengal that connects the northeastern states with the rest of India. Shrivastava said once the projects are completed, the entire rail corridor will undergo a major transformation, and the area will develop in a more organised manner. He said work on doubling the line in the Barsoi section was also underway, while infrastructure was being expanded across the Katihar division.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.