India has commissioned three new military bases along the Bangladesh border to reinforce the strategically vital Siliguri Corridor. The new installations -  located in Assam, Bihar, and West Bengal - significantly expand surveillance, logistics, and rapid-response capability for the Trishakti Corps. Authorities say the move is part of a sweeping defence overhaul aimed at securing the narrow 22-km stretch linking the mainland to the northeast.

Siliguri (FNO): In a significant recalibration of its eastern security posture, India has established three new military bases along the sensitive border with Bangladesh. The installations -  including the Lachit Borphukan Military Station near Dhubri in Assam and forward bases at Kishanganj (Bihar) and Chopra (West Bengal) - are aimed at strengthening the defence grid around the 22-kilometre-wide Siliguri Corridor, the narrow land bridge linking mainland India to the northeastern states.

The move forms part of a broader overhaul of the corridor’s strategic preparedness. Existing defences - including air superiority assets, missile-defence layers and enhanced ground mobility -  are now being augmented with additional garrisons designed to deliver tighter surveillance, quicker deployment capability and a more robust deterrence posture.

Troops operating under the Trishakti Corps (33 Corps), headquartered near Siliguri, stand to benefit from improved logistics networks, faster troop movement and better coordination across varied terrain ranging from plains to riverine and hilly regions. The upgraded infrastructure is expected to significantly boost operational readiness in one of India’s most critical military arteries.

For the more than 45 million residents of the northeastern states who depend on the corridor for essential connectivity - including transport, trade and supply chains - the fortification brings both reassurance and potential challenges. While enhanced security measures may deter external threats, increased militarisation could also tighten border-area regulations, heighten surveillance and increase scrutiny of cross-border trade routes.

With the operationalisation of these three new installations, India has signalled a renewed and decisive commitment to safeguarding its eastern frontier. Long viewed as a geographic vulnerability, the Siliguri Corridor is now being reshaped into a fortified linchpin of the nation’s defence architecture.