India halts railway projects linking northeast through Bangladesh: Indian media

Banglapress Published: 23 September 2025, 10:25 AM

India halts railway projects linking northeast through Bangladesh: Indian media

Bangla Press Desk: India has halted construction works for at least three ongoing projects and five other pending ones for linking the mainland with the country’s seven northeastern states through Bangladeshi railway network. The ongoing “political turmoil” and “safety of labour” in Bangladesh has prompted New Delhi authorities to seek alternative routes through other neighbours like Nepal and Bhutan as well as bolstered infrastructure through its narrow “Chicken’s Neck” corridor, Indian media outlets reported, citing insiders. As nearly 5,000 crore rupees funding for Bangladeshi routes are being halted, a 3,500-4,000 crore rupees plan is being explored to seek transit through Nepal and Bhutan. The three halted projects are: Akhaura - Agartala Cross-Border Rail Link and Khulabura-Sahabajpur rail line laying; Khulna - Mongla Port Rail Line; and the Dhaka – Tongi – Joydebpur rail expansion project, sources told Indian media outlets including the Business Line and The Hindu.

“In another five, there were location surveys that were being carried out. They have been stalled,” a second official said. The government is exploring the possibility of line doubling and quadrupling in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, key arteries feeding into the Siliguri Corridor, to enhance capacity and reliability. “Survey work is underway,” said a second Railway official. Simultaneously, New Delhi is exploring rail links through Bhutan and Nepal, leveraging existing agreements like the India-Nepal rail pact and Bhutan’s proximity to the North East. These routes, while logistically complex, could diversify India’s connectivity options and reduce reliance on Bangladesh. Source: DS [Bangla Press is a global platform for free thought. It provides impartial news, analysis, and commentary for independent-minded individuals. Our goal is to bring about positive change, which is more important today than ever before.] BP/ZE

[Bangla Press is a global platform for free thought. It provides impartial news, analysis, and commentary for independent-minded individuals. Our goal is to bring about positive change, which is more important today than ever before.]