Union Home Minister Amit Shah has reviewed security and critical infrastructure across the Siliguri Corridor, directing central and state agencies to complete pending works on time, strengthen their institutional presence and improve protection of vital installations in the strategically important region.
The review brought together senior officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Indian Army, Border Security Force, Sashastra Seema Bal and Railway Protection Force. West Bengal’s Chief Secretary and Director General of Police also participated, along with the Chief Minister.
The Multi Agency Centre’s Standing Focus Group on the Siliguri Corridor presented progress achieved so far and recommendations for further strengthening security. The meeting considered infrastructure projects that have a direct bearing on the corridor’s security and connectivity.
Shah directed the agencies responsible for these projects to complete pending work within defined timelines. He also asked participating organisations to increase their footprint in the corridor by establishing more institutions and to take all necessary measures to secure vital installations.
The discussions included border affairs, illegal immigration, demographic changes and activities involving persons of interest. The Home Minister stressed the need for agencies to implement what was described as a quadrangular approach to border security, requiring coordinated action rather than isolated measures by individual organisations.
Directions were also issued to keep the corridor free from encroachments. The government’s focus combines physical security, infrastructure completion, border management and institutional coordination because disruption in the narrow region can have consequences extending beyond West Bengal.
The Siliguri Corridor connects India’s northeastern states with the rest of the country and lies close to several international borders. Its geography gives roads, railways, communications and other infrastructure in the area significant national-security and economic importance.
The review therefore involved both security forces and infrastructure authorities. Protecting the corridor depends not only on deployments and surveillance but also on reliable transport links, protected installations and the ability of agencies to share information and respond collectively.
Shah suggested that the West Bengal government explore the possibility of opening additional Sainik Schools in North Bengal. He also called for an increase in the number of senior National Cadet Corps cadets and stronger Civil Defence and Home Guards institutions in the corridor.
These proposals are intended to expand training and local institutional capacity over the longer term. They are separate from the immediate directions on vital installations, encroachments, illegal immigration and time-bound infrastructure works.
No new military operation or emergency restriction was announced after the meeting. The outcome was a set of administrative and security directions for the agencies already responsible for the corridor. Follow-up will depend on completion of pending projects, implementation of the coordinated security approach and continued review by central and state authorities.
