India's first under-river metro tunnel all set for inauguration
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate India's maiden under-river metro tunnel in Kolkata, marking a significant achievement in the country's infrastructure development.
The Howrah Maidan-Esplanade Metro section, a part of the Kolkata Metro extension, includes the first-ever transportation tunnel beneath a major river in India.
The underwater metro is designed to cover a 520-meter stretch under the Hooghly River in just 45 seconds, connecting Howrah Maidan to Esplanade. Notably, this groundbreaking project encompasses 16.6 kilometers of the East-West Metro, with 10.8 kilometers comprising an underground corridor, including the innovative tunnel beneath the Hooghly River.
The Howrah Maidan-Esplanade section houses the deepest metro station in India at the Howrah Metro station.
The underwater metro boasts six stations, three of which are situated underground, promising enhanced accessibility for commuters and strategically serving key areas in Kolkata. Beyond addressing transportation needs, this ambitious project aims to alleviate traffic congestion and reduce air pollution in the city, contributing to a more sustainable and efficient urban environment.
Initiated in 2009, the East-West Metro corridor's tunneling under the River Hooghly commenced in 2017. Uday Kumar Reddy, the General Manager of Kolkata Metro Railway, expressed the marvel of the tunnel section, stating, "We [are] traveling about 16 meters below the level of the river water. It is a marvel. We are expecting a daily ridership of 7 lakh."
Anil Kumar Khandelwal, Member-Infrastructure, Railway Board, emphasized the advanced safety features incorporated into the metro rail tunnel, highlighting it as a symbol of developed infrastructure in India.
A video previewing the metro tunnel has been shared by news agency ANI ahead of the inauguration.