The ground-breaking underwater metro service in Kolkata is all set to open for the public soon. According to the latest reports, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 16.6 kilometres metro tunnel beneath the Hooghly River on March 6. This will make it India’s first-ever underwater metro service! This remarkable engineering marvel will help ease the traffic congestion and also bring down the pollution levels in the city. Read on to learn more about this new metro line.
India’s First-Ever Underwater Metro Service All Set To Open In Kolkata
Beginning a new era of urban transportation, India’s first-ever underwater metro service will be flagged off in Kolkata tomorrow. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate this metro service. This underwater metro tunnel will connect Howrah Maidan to Esplanade via metro.
A major section of this 16.6-kilometre-long metro corridor is actually built beneath the Hooghly River – making it an engineering marvel. It connects the twin cities of Howrah and Kolkata and promises a sustainable and efficient urban public transportation service in the city. Back in April 2023, the Kolkata Metro was successfully able to run a train in the tunnel, marking a historic milestone in the project.
Some Facts & Important Things To Know About This New Metro Line
The Kolkata underwater metro service stands as the first-ever transportation tunnel built under a river. This monumental public transport service will help ease traffic congestion and reduce the pollution levels in the city once it reaches its full capacity. The underwater metro section will feature six stations, with the construction of three of them underground.
Around 10.8 km of the 16.6 km of this metro corridor is built underground. The underground stretch is between Howrah Maidan and Phoolbagan, with the tunnel under the Hooghly River. Also, the Howrah metro station is the deepest metro station constructed in India. It connects an integral part of the East-West Metro corridor by connecting Howrah Maidan to Esplanade. As per reports, this metro service will cover the 520-metre stretch under the Hooghly River in just 45 seconds.
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Cover Image Courtesy: India Today
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First Published: March 05, 2024 4:31 PM