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India Plans Deep Underground Rail Lines to Secure Siliguri Corridor

The design pairs two deep tracks with a four-track surface upgrade to create redundancy along the corridor’s most vulnerable stretch.

Overview

  • Railway officials detailed a roughly 40 km plan between Tin Mile Haat and Rangapani with tracks laid about 20–24 metres below ground.
  • One of the underground lines is planned to connect toward Bagdogra, which officials describe as strategically important for air defence.
  • The surface double-line section is slated to be expanded to four tracks, and together with two underground lines would yield six parallel routes.
  • Some reports cite a proposed 22 km underground tunnel segment within the alignment, though the final tunnel length has not been confirmed.
  • The initiative is in detailed planning without announced construction start dates, budgets or clearances, and has drawn strong public backing from Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.