Shruti Suman
PM Modi is scheduled to inaugurate India’s first inaugural underwater metro tunnel in Kolkata, West Bengal on Wednesday. Additionally, he will unveil several crucial metro and rapid transit projects nationwide, marking a significant step forward in improving urban mobility and connectivity. The Kolkata Metro extension, which includes the Howrah Maidan-Esplanade Metro section, boasts India’s first transportation tunnel passing under a major river, marking a pivotal moment in the nation’s infrastructure development.
Here are 10 key points to note about the Kolkata Underwater Metro Service:
- The Kolkata Underwater Metro Service is an impressive engineering feat, spanning 16.6 kilometers beneath the Hooghly River.
- This underwater metro service will link Kolkata’s twin cities, Howrah and Salt Lake, with six stations along the route.
- Notably, the Howrah Maidan-Esplanade section of the Kolkata Metro will witness trains traveling underwater.
- In April 2023, the Kolkata Metro achieved a historic milestone by conducting trial runs of a train through the tunnel under the Hooghly River.
- The underwater section measures 4.8 kilometers in length, connecting Howrah Maidan to Esplanade.
- This tunnel is part of the East-West Metro corridor, connecting Howrah Maidan to the IT hub Salt Lake Sector V.
- The India’s first Underwater Metro Service in Kolkata is expected to cover a 520-meter stretch under the famous Hooghly River in just 45 seconds.
- Out of 16.6 kilometers of the East-West Metro, 10.8 km are underground, including the tunnel beneath the Hooghly River, while the remainder is above the ground.
- The Kolkata Metro aims to commence commercial operations for the entire East-West route between Salt Lake Sector V and Howrah Maidan around June or July.
- With the introduction of this metro service, India is embracing the future of transportation, which will significantly enhance the urban transport system.
