Siliguri Corridor

The Siliguri Corridor is the strip of Indian territory within the red highlighted circle.

The Siliguri Corridor (Bengali: শিলিগূড়ি করিডোর) or Chicken's Neck (Bengali: চিকেন নেক) is a narrow stretch of land that connects India's north-eastern states to the rest of India. This strip of land is only 21 to 40 km in width, with the countries of Nepal and Bangladesh lying on either side of the corridor. The kingdom of Bhutan lies on the northern side of the corridor.

The city of Siliguri in the state of West Bengal is the major city in this area. The city is the central node that connects Bhutan, Nepal, Sikkim, Darjeeling hills, north-east India and the rest of India.

History

See also Partition of India

The Siliguri Corridor was created in 1947 after the partition of Bengal between India and Pakistan (former state of East Bengal, now independent Bangladesh).

Importance

This corridor is a very much important and also a sensitive one for India. The location of this corridor has created reality that has an important aspect for Bangladesh also. Separation of India occurred as outcome of hostility between Indian National Congress and the Muslim League. As a result from the very beginning the relationship of these two new states was marked by hostilities and confrontations.

This separation created a hostile state in this part of India named “East-Pakistan”. “East-Pakistan” created a disadvantaged situation for the north Eastern-Part of India. The existence of “East-Pakistan” created a kind of geographical barrier for the North-Eastern part of India commonly known as “Seven-Sisters”. Because this narrow Siliguri Corridor which is at one point less than 14 miles wide remained as the only way of communication between the mainland India and north-eastern part.

This region was waged between hostile East Pakistan to the south and west and hostile China to the north. It had no access to the sea except to the nearest sea port being in Calcutta.^[1] Between Sikkim and Bhutan lies the Chumbi valley, a dagger like slice of the Tibetan territory. The southward a Chinese advance of less than 80 miles would cut off Bhutan, part of West Bengal and entire North-East India, which constitutes almost 50 million people of India. This situation occurred during the war between India and China on 1962.^[2]

Though the independence of Bangladesh has reduced the vulnerability to greater extent but still using this corridor is economically unprofitable for India since she have to pass almost 2000 k.m in order to get access from Mijuram to Calcutta sea. As an impact this region is very much undeveloped compering to the other parts of the India. As a result various separation movement and arms groups are trying to liberate the area from the Indian authority. This has created a major concern for India's security.

Current situation

Being a sensitive area amidst three countries, the strip is heavily patrolled by the Indian Army, the Assam Rifles, the Border Security Force and the West Bengal Police. In recent times, the area has become the focus of illegal crossings between Bangladeshi rebels and Nepali Maoist insurgents, both in search of refuge from their country. A flourishing narcotics and weapons traffic also takes place in this region.^[3]

All land transportation between mainland India and its far north-eastern states must use this circuitous corridor, as there is no free trade agreement between Bangladesh and India. The route has a major broad gauge railway line in addition to the old metre gauge line which connects the north-eastern states with the rest of India. National Highway 31 connects Siliguri to Guwahati in Assam which is the most critical highway in the region, owing to the insurgents in the vicinity.^[4]

Proposals

In 2002, India, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh studied a proposal to create a free trade zone in the area which would enable all four countries to connect directly with each other without restrictions.^[5]

Notes

1. ^ Marcus Franda, "Bangladesh, The First Decades", South Asian Publishers Pvt. Ltd, New Delhi,1982, p-126
2. ^ Partha S. Ghosh, "Cooperation and Conflict in South Asia", UPL, Dhaka,1989,p-43
3. ^ "Siliguri corridor 'vulnerable', warns security expert." DNA. 22 July 2007. Accessed 30 May 2008.
4. ^ "Chicken's Neck, All choked up." Outlook. 13 July 1998. Accessed 27 February 2011.
5. ^ "Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and India to set up FTA." Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry News & News. July–August 2002. Accessed 30 May 2008.