Chicken Neck Route : To reduce its dependence on Chicken Neck, the Indian government has made a big plan. If it comes into effect, Bihar and Bengal will be connected. The Indian government will build this railway track through Nepal. In this plan, it is proposed to build a railway line through Viratnagar in Nepal to connect Jogbani in Bihar to New Mal Junction in Bengal. According to the Times of India report, Indian Railways has approved a 190 km route for the final location survey between Viratnagar and New Mal Junction in Nepal. The main objective of this route is to reduce dependence on the Siliguri corridor connecting the Northeast to India. This corridor is also called Chicken Neck.
This is the new plan of Indian Government
TOI reported that Indian Railways has approved a 190 km route. Under this, Galgalia (Bihar) Bhadrapur (Nepal) Kajali Bazar (Nepal) and 12.5 km of new railway tracks will be needed. The report said that the Jogbani-Biratnagar section will include 18.6 km of tracks in India and 13.15 km in Nepal. The Nepal government will soon take over this area. Work is being done in the remaining part.
What is Chicken Neck and why is it important for India
The government is going to reduce its dependence on the Siliguri Corridor connecting India to the Northeast. All the rail routes connecting India to the Northeast pass through Aluabari in Islampur. This area falls in Chicken Neck. This entire area falls in the 22-km area between Nepal and Bangladesh. Trains from Aluabari go towards New Jalpaiguri Junction or Siliguri Junction. China is currently eyeing Chicken Neck. Therefore, it is very important for India.