Key Highlights of Kolkata’s Underwater Metro Tunnel

PM Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the country's inaugural under-river metro tunnel in Kolkata on Wednesday.

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[{"selector":"#anim-90a82eb8-1bd6-4094-8ac3-078862371433 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-68.35937480800591%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-eb6258ad-8e44-45e6-8911-eca602516387","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-27cfce4a-bff1-46af-b7fc-6646e1530533","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 127.17718%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] This groundbreaking tunnel, situated beneath the Hooghly River in Kolkata, will establish a vital connection between Howrah Maidan and the Esplanade.

[{"selector":"#anim-bb0e1349-dc5e-4f52-9655-80d4b5442290 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-54.68749987200394%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-da11fa84-982f-44ce-a2df-5b343afa8ea8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7b735f48-b3bb-40da-b59c-5905bacaf953","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 174.47745%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The under-river tunnel represents India's first-ever transportation tunnel beneath the Hooghly River.

[{"selector":"#anim-1107d20d-d9e6-44da-9194-8d80464d885c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-44.531249914669296%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8a304473-e205-48ad-89db-84072538f075","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-74f454d2-7ec1-4901-a7cd-755da3b73ecb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 138.66367%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] 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.

[{"selector":"#anim-bbea8bfc-4e65-460e-a784-55d6f1e5641c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-21.874999829338588%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ced2ce74-4248-4475-8264-898ba56b33b6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3cddfdc1-0f54-49d1-b265-51888a82580e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 137.33848%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] 3 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.

[{"selector":"#anim-8eae7151-f346-45ab-8767-458f23227fcb [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-56.56249988053701%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3f92326d-5c68-48b8-b5bd-0c9e4a785e25","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ae59badd-fbf4-456a-8831-193821ea28c9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 133.45887%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] 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.

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[{"selector":"#anim-0af78554-a607-49a8-b860-5f4668f040c8 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-34.18710433442771%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-56c44a2b-cdfe-4eaa-8247-f4eb795d09d3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d8c96700-e2cb-43fb-91a6-cb440c54a96f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 123.45173%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] 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.

[{"selector":"#anim-63829e5f-16b4-429a-8a47-31b32ea04b8c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-34.179687404002955%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5973d338-45ad-423c-9fe8-f634a5d17875","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-afbba111-05f0-4b71-9b5b-e9e0a660954c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 133.26873%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] 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.