Bengal hands over 7 Highway projects near Chicken’s Neck to Centre

The Bengal government led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has decided to hand over seven key national highway stretches near the strategic Siliguri Corridor, also known as the “Chicken’s Neck”, to central agencies for faster infrastructure development.

Following in-principle approval from Nabanna, responsibility for several crucial highway projects will now shift to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).

The projects include major stretches such as NH-31, NH-33 and NH-312, along with the Sevok–Coronation Bridge route, Hasimara–Jaigaon corridor and Changrabandha connectivity project.

Officials said the move resolves a long-pending deadlock over highway expansion and infrastructure clearances that had delayed development work for nearly a year.

The projects are expected to significantly strengthen connectivity across North Bengal while improving road access to border areas adjoining Bangladesh, Bhutan and the Northeast region.

The Siliguri Corridor, commonly called Chicken’s Neck, is a narrow 22-km-wide land strip in northern West Bengal that connects mainland India to the eight northeastern states. Due to its strategic location between Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh, the corridor holds major military and logistical importance.

Experts believe enhanced highway connectivity in the region will improve defence mobility, railway infrastructure support, border surveillance and trade movement, while also boosting economic activity in Darjeeling, Dooars and adjoining border districts.