Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the country’s inaugural under-river metro tunnel in Kolkata on Wednesday. This groundbreaking tunnel, situated beneath the Hooghly River in Kolkata, will establish a vital connection between Howrah Maidan and the Esplanade.
Here are the key highlights of the Hooghly River underwater tunnel:
1. Landmark Transportation Tunnel: The under-river tunnel is part of the Kolkata Metro’s Howrah Maidan-Esplanade section and represents India’s first-ever transportation tunnel beneath the Hooghly River.
2. East-West Metro Project: Forming part of the ambitious East-West Metro project, this 16.5 km stretch aims to connect Howrah on the west bank of the Hooghly River to Salt Lake City on the east bank. This transformative project is notable for introducing trains running underwater in India.
3. Execution by KMRCL: The Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation Limited (KMRCL) spearheaded the execution of this project. Of the total stretch, 10.8 km is underground, while 5.75 km is elevated on a viaduct.
4. Traffic Congestion Relief: Aiming to alleviate traffic congestion in the historic city of Kolkata, which boasts a rich history spanning 300 years, the metro tunnel contributes to reducing vehicular pollution.
5. Deepest Metro Station: The Howrah metro station, part of this section, will hold the distinction of being the deepest metro station in India.
6. Rapid Underwater Commute: The metro is expected to cover the 520-meter stretch under the Hooghly River in an impressive 45 seconds, according to Live Mint.
7. Project Progress: While the Esplanade-Sealdah stretch is yet to be completed, the Salt Lake Sector V to Sealdah stretch is already operational. The entire East-West alignment, spanning 16.6 km, is anticipated to commence commercial operations between Salt Lake Sector V and Howrah Maidan by June-July.
Kolkata, with the inauguration of this under-river metro tunnel, adds another milestone to its transportation legacy. The Kolkata Metro, the country’s first metro system and the fifth in Asia, initiated partial commercial service on October 24, 1984, covering a distance of 3.40 km with five stations between Esplanade and Netaji Bhavan.
