Underground rail link a strategic breakthrough for Northeast connectivity: Assam CM

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on February 3 described the proposed underground rail link connecting the Northeast with the rest of the country as a major strategic breakthrough, saying it would significantly strengthen national security and ensure uninterrupted connectivity.

In a statement shared on social media, Sarma said that for decades, the narrow Siliguri Corridor, often referred to as the “Chicken’s Neck”, has been viewed as a strategic vulnerability and used as an intimidation point by anti-national forces, both within and outside India. He said the proposed underground rail corridor would create a secure and reliable transportation link between the Northeast and mainland India.

The Chief Minister credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for taking what he termed a decisive step towards addressing this long-standing strategic concern. Sarma said the project would help mitigate a vulnerability that, in his view, should have been addressed much earlier, possibly in the years following the 1971 war.

He underlined that the underground rail link would not only enhance strategic depth but also reinforce economic integration and mobility for the northeastern states, ensuring greater resilience in times of crisis.

The proposed project is being seen as part of a broader push by the Centre to strengthen infrastructure, security and connectivity in the Northeast, a region that has long faced geographical and logistical challenges due to its narrow land link with the rest of the country.