The announcement has particular significance for Siliguri, which functions as the gateway to the Northeast and is located near the strategically important Siliguri Corridor, commonly known as Chicken’s Neck. This narrow stretch connects the north-eastern states with the rest of India and is important for both national connectivity and strategic access.
Darjeeling MP Raju Bista welcomed the project and said the proposed corridor, together with the Gorakhpur-Siliguri Expressway, would improve road links between northern India, North Bengal and the northeastern states. The combined network is intended to support more efficient movement through a region whose geography has made reliable transport infrastructure especially important for commerce and public services.
Improved highway access is expected to reduce travel friction for goods and make journeys easier for tourists, students and patients. It could also create more favourable conditions for trade, industry and investment by improving links among markets, businesses and communities across the region.
For Siliguri, the corridor could reinforce its role as a transport, logistics and commercial hub serving North Bengal, Sikkim and the Northeast. Better links are also expected to support tourism and create opportunities for employment and livelihoods. The announcement comes as the town’s strategic and economic relevance grows, with several major road and connectivity projects being planned around the region. Bista credited Gadkari and Prime Minister Narendra Modi with focusing on infrastructure and connectivity in North Bengal and the Northeast.