2 weeks ago
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A tiny portion of India’s map, referred to arsenic the ‘Chicken Neck’ oregon Siliguri Corridor, is deemed the Nation’s strategical lifeline. Recently, the West Bengal authorities handed implicit the absorption of 7 important highways successful this country straight to the cardinal government. These sections were antecedently managed nether the National Highways Wing of the State’s Public Works Department (PWD).
The newly-elected West Bengal authorities attributed this determination to India’s integrity and nationalist security, and to guarantee seamless connectivity with the northeastern States.
Why is Siliguri corridor called Chicken’s neck?
The strategical Siliguri corridor is called the 'Chicken's Neck' for its shape. It is simply a portion of onshore located successful bluish West Bengal's Siliguri area, having a width of much than 20 km. The portion is sandwiched betwixt Nepal and Bangladesh, with Bhutan and China a fewer 100 kilometres away. Despite its tiny size, it is considered 1 of India’s astir delicate regions.
Why is it important?
Geographically, this corridor serves arsenic the backbone of India, acting arsenic the sole onshore transportation betwixt the 8 northeastern States — Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura — and the remainder of the country.
The superior railway lines and nationalist highways that traverse this corridor are the lone entree points to these States. In the lawsuit of a situation connected this constrictive route, these 8 northeastern States could beryllium wholly isolated from the mainland.
Why was it handed to the Centre?
The BJP-led West Bengal authorities said transferring power could velocity up long-delayed upgrades, reinforcements, and repairs of highways indispensable for defence logistics, trade, tourism, and improving determination connectivity. The Indian Army stands to summation importantly from the cardinal government’s nonstop oversight of these captious strategical routes. This country is location to galore cardinal subject units.
Ensuring these roads are ever successful optimal information is captious for the swift deployment of equipment, dense weaponry, and troops to the northeastern borders. Centralised power volition heighten strategical readiness and let the service to respond rapidly successful emergencies without obstacles, according to the Defence Ministry.
