Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently marked a historic moment with the inauguration of India’s inaugural under-river metro tunnel in Kolkata, a remarkable achievement nearly four decades since the city introduced its first metro services.
The tunnel, situated beneath the Hooghly River, establishes a crucial link between Howrah Maidan and Esplanade, connecting two pivotal areas within the city.
With the completion of this project, trains can now seamlessly traverse a 520-meter stretch under the river in just 45 seconds, providing residents with a quicker and more convenient mode of transportation. In celebration of this milestone, Prime Minister Modi, accompanied by school children, embarked on a metro ride from Esplanade to Howrah Maidan.
The tunnel’s construction commenced in 2017, and the 4.8km segment of the East-West Metro in West Bengal was completed for Rs 49.65 billion (£470 million). The Kolkata Metro aims to initiate commercial operations for the entire East-West route, spanning from Salt Lake Sector V to Howrah Maidan, by June-July.
This accomplishment underscores the significant expansion of metro rail services in India, now available in 15 cities nationwide. Notably, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation alone manages an extensive network covering 393km in the capital city of New Delhi.
