The central government of India has taken control of several highways in the strategically vital Siliguri Corridor, also known as the ‘Chicken’s Neck’, in West Bengal. According to a notification issued by the state’s chief secretary, the new Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government transferred seven roads to the National Highways Authority of India and the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited. These roads were previously managed by the state’s Public Works Department, and five of them pass directly through the corridor.

Experts believe this transfer will accelerate road expansion and repair work in the area. Military observers note that improved road infrastructure will enhance the speed and ease of troop movement in the region. The corridor, only 22 kilometers long, connects mainland India with its northeastern states and lies close to the borders of Nepal, Bangladesh, and Bhutan.

Analysts view the move as a significant step for national security, following years of central-level discussions on infrastructure expansion in the area since the 2017 Doklam standoff involving India, Bhutan, and China.