Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India’s first underwater metro route in Kolkata today, marking a significant milestone in the country’s infrastructure development. This underwater service is part of the Howrah Maidan-Esplanade section of the Kolkata Metro’s East-West corridor, spanning 16.6 km beneath the Hooghly River.
The metro route connects Howrah and Salt Lake, the twin cities of West Bengal’s state capital, and features three underground stations. Notably, it is anticipated to traverse a 520-meter stretch under the Hooghly river in a mere 45 seconds. The inauguration ceremony, attended by top officials and dignitaries, follows the historic moment in April 2023 when the Kolkata Metro successfully ran a train through the underwater tunnel during trials, a first in India. In an interesting view, students from various schools could also be seen travelling on the inaugural metro.
The newly-constructed tunnel’s lower section is positioned 26 meters below the river’s surface, with trains set to operate 16 meters beneath the riverbed. This marks India’s first transportation initiative featuring a metro train traversing beneath a river. According to the Ministry of Railways, approximately 10.8 kilometers of the route will be subterranean, while 5.75 kilometers will be elevated on a viaduct. The ministry noted that this project will significantly alleviate traffic congestion in Kolkata.
Notably, a historic test run of two six-coach metro trains beneath the Hooghly River’s underwater tunnel was conducted by Kolkata Metro last year. Originally slated for completion by December 2021, the project encountered delays attributed to accidents during tunneling work in central Kolkata’s Bowbazar.
Later in the day, the Prime Minister will also unveil the Kavi Subhash-Hemanta Mukhopadhyay and Taratala-Majerhat Metro sections in Kolkata on the same day. PM Modi will then address a public rally in Barasat in the North 24 Parganas district. The Prime Minister, who arrived in the state capital on March 4, visited the Ramakrishna Mission Seva Pratishthan, where Swami Smarananandaji Maharaj, the president of Ramakrishna Math and Mission, is currently undergoing treatment.