Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India's pioneering underwater metro train service in Kolkata, marking a historic achievement in the country's infrastructure and urban development.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India's pioneering underwater metro train service in Kolkata, marking a historic achievement in the country's infrastructure and urban development. The service, which is a vital component of the East-West corridor of the Kolkata Metro, is designed to enhance connectivity between the twin cities of the West Bengal capital, Howrah and Salt Lake.
Howrah Maidan-Esplanade section: A technological marvel
The underwater metro route is part of the 16.6 km long Howrah Maidan-Esplanade section, which is notable for passing under the Hooghly River. The service, consisting of three underground stations, is expected to cover a distance of 520 meters under the river in just 45 seconds, demonstrating impressive engineering and technological progress by the metro.
The inauguration ceremony, attended by Bengal Governor Dr CV Anand Bose, Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari and other dignitaries, was a celebratory moment for the project, which had earlier conducted successful test runs in April 2023. The presence of students from various schools at the inaugural metro journey added a lively touch to the historic occasion.
Engineering and Construction Highlights
Located 26 meters below the river surface, the tunnel allows trains to operate 16 meters below the river bed, marking India's first venture of metro trains traveling under a river. This initiative is set to reduce traffic congestion in Kolkata to a great extent, offering a sustainable and efficient alternative to road transport.
The Railway Ministry revealed that 10.8 km of the East-West Metro route will be underground, complemented by a 5.75 km elevated section. This mix of underground and elevated routes is expected to drastically improve urban mobility in the city.
Project Insights and Future Developments
The ambitious Kolkata Metro project faced delays, notably due to an accident during tunneling work at Bowbazar, but has now achieved an important milestone with the start of the underwater metro service. The Prime Minister also plans to inaugurate additional metro sections in Kolkata, expand the city's metro network and enhance public transport facilities.
The underwater metro project, launched in 2009 with a tunnel under the Hooghly river in 2017, has faced challenges, including bursting of the aquifer at Bowbazar and subsequent land subsidence. Despite these constraints, the completion of the project is an important step towards tackling traffic congestion and air pollution, paving the way for a greener and more connected Kolkata.
India's first underwater metro – important facts
- Kolkata Metro achieved a milestone in April 2023, when its rake completed a test journey under the Hooghly river bed through a tunnel 32 meters below water level for the first time in India.
- The inauguration will take place on March 6, with passenger services starting at a later date, said CPRO Metro Railway Kaushik Mitra.
- Spanning a distance of 4.8 kilometers between Howrah Maidan and Esplanade, this stretch forms a vital stretch of the East-West Metro Corridor, connecting key areas like IT hub Salt Lake Sector V.
- Of the total 16.6 km of East-West Metro, 10.8 km includes an underground corridor, including an unprecedented tunnel under the Hooghly River.
- The metro section, which has six stations, three of which are underground, promises better accessibility for commuters, strategically serving busy areas of the city.
- Since the metro train is expected to cover the distance of 520 meters under the river in just 45 seconds, it not only provides speed but also ensures a seamless and time-efficient mode of transportation, thereby improving the connectivity of Kolkata. And urban mobility increases.
- This ambitious project not only addresses transportation needs, but also tackles the long-standing issues of traffic congestion and air pollution in Kolkata, promising a greener, more efficient urban environment.
- Work on the East-West Metro Corridor began in 2009 and work on tunneling under the Hooghly River began in 2017.
- The completion of the project was delayed due to the bursting of an aquifer at Bowbazar in central Kolkata on August 31, 2019, causing severe ground subsidence, collapse of several buildings there and construction work at the same location in 2022 during tunneling and construction work. Two more water leakage incidents occurred.
- The portion of the East-West Metro Corridor from Salt Lake Sector V to Sealdah is currently commercially operational.
- PM will also inaugurate poet Subhash-Hemant Mukhopadhyay and Taratala-Majerhat metro section in Kolkata.