Kolkata Metro Makes History with India’s First Underwater Journey

Kolkata Metro has made history by creating India’s first underwater metro railway project – News Leader

News Leader – Kolkata Metro has made history by creating India’s first underwater metro railway project. The metro made its first run under the Hooghly River in Kolkata on April 6, 2023. Expected to cover the 520-meter river stretch, 32 meters deep, in 45 seconds. The East-West Metro Corridor connects Salt Lake Sector 5 east to Howrah Maidan in the west. The metro claims to covers approximately 540-meter stretch between Esplanade and Howrah in less than a minute. The tunnel is 32 meters below the water level, and once it opens for commercial service, Hara Maidan station, which is 33 meters below the surface level, will be the deepest metro station in the country.

The Kolkata Metro General Manager said that trial runs would be conducted along the route for seven months before regular commercial services begin. Expected to open the station to the public before the end of the year 2023 after completing the trial runs. Experts have labeled the project a technological marvel, with twin tunnels running approximately 32 meters beneath the river Hooghly. Kolkata Metro has already made history in the past by being the first city in India to have a metro railway project.

According to News Leader, the underwater metro project has been a massive undertaking, with challenges like riverbed construction, water pressure, and flood risks The project’s completion has not only added a feather to Kolkata Metro’s cap, but also boosted the city’s infrastructure and connectivity. The underwater metro project will also contribute to the city’s efforts to reduce traffic congestion, pollution and provide a more convenient mode of transportation for the public. The project’s completion testifies to the city’s dedication to a sustainable and efficient public transport system.