Assam hails Bengal's fencing move to secure Siliguri corridor

Guwahati: Assam's government has welcomed West Bengal's decision to facilitate border fencing in sensitive areas. The Himanta Biswa Sarma-led state government sees securing of the Siliguri Corridor, also known as the "Chicken's Neck", by the BJP-led West Bengal government as central to efforts to thwart threat to the northeastern region from across the border.

Assam's governor Lakshman Prasad Achary has welcomed the BJP-led West Bengal government's decision to facilitate border fencing in sensitive areas, especially the Siliguri Corridor, also known as "Chicken's Neck".

"Chicken's Neck" is a strip of land-about 22 km wide at the narrowest point--that connects northeastern India with the rest of the country.


Addressing the first session of the 16th Assembly on Friday, Achary said efforts to curb infiltration were constrained for many years due to porous and unfenced stretches along the international border, particularly in parts of West Bengal. The recent decision of the West Bengal government to hand over required land for border fencing is a significant and welcome development."

After the Union budget, railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had told reporters that plans are afoot for a rail link across the corridor. "There is special planning for the strategic corridor connecting the Northeast with the rest of the country," he had told reporters on a video conference call.

Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma then posted on X, "For decades, the Chicken's Neck has been used as an intimidation tactic by anti-national forces, both within and beyond our borders. The proposed underground rail link marks a major strategic breakthrough, creating a secure and foolproof transportation corridor between the Northeast and the rest of the country."