-
- Modi also took a ride with some school students inaugurating India’s first underwater metro in Kolkata.
- The Prime Minister inaugurated three metro routes in Kolkata.
- The routes are Esplanade-Howrah Maidan, Taratala-Majherhat and New Garia-Ruby with the first being an underwater one.
- Kolkata is also the city where India’s first metro service started way back in 1984.
Kolkata: Marking a significant milestone in infrastructure and urban development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India’s first underwater metro rail service in Kolkata on Wednesday.
The new service, a part of the Kolkata Metro’s East-West track, enhances connectivity between West Bengal’s twin cities, Howrah and Salt Lake.
Spanning 16.6 kilometers, the Howrah Maidan-Esplanade section of the metro line features the underwater stretch, which includes three subterranean stations. The metro can traverse 520 meters beneath the Hooghly River in just 45 seconds, showcasing remarkable engineering and technological prowess.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Bengal Governor Dr. CV Ananda Bose, Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, and other dignitaries. The event followed successful trial runs conducted in April 2023. The inaugural ride also saw students from several schools, adding to the celebratory atmosphere.
The underwater metro’s tunnel, the first of its kind in India, operates 16 meters below the riverbed and 26 meters below the river’s surface, offering a sustainable and efficient mode of transport that will help alleviate traffic congestion in Kolkata.
The Ministry of Railways has announced plans for an additional 10.8 kilometers of subterranean and 5.75 kilometers of elevated sections for the East-West Metro, which could significantly enhance the city’s mobility infrastructure.
Despite facing challenges such as an accident during excavation in Bowbazar and issues with aquifer bursts and ground subsidence, the underwater metro project, which commenced in 2009 and began tunneling under the Hooghly River in 2017, has now been successfully completed.
The Prime Minister is also set to inaugurate new sections of the Kolkata metro, further expanding the city’s metro network and improving public transportation.