Railways Sanctions ₹916 Crore for Track Doubling of 56.41 km Thakurganj–Siliguri Section in North Bengal
The Ministry of Railways has sanctioned ₹916.18 crore for the doubling of the 56.41 km railway section between Thakurganj and Siliguri in North Bengal. The project extends the ongoing track-doubling works on the Aluabari Road–Thakurganj railway line up to Siliguri Junction, passing through key stations including Bagdogra, Naxalbari, and Adhikari.
The upgraded corridor is expected to increase rail network carrying capacity, enable faster train operations, and create scope for introducing additional train services on what is one of eastern India's busiest railway corridors. The project is also strategically significant for the Siliguri Corridor — commonly referred to as the Chicken's Neck — a narrow land strip that serves as the primary rail and road link connecting mainland India with its northeastern states.