Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India’s first-ever underwater metro rail line in Kolkata on Thursday amidst a grand ceremony attended by dignitaries and officials. The much-awaited Howrah Maidan-Esplanade section of the East-West Metro corridor in the city will open for public service following the inauguration.
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Here are five key facts about Kolkata’s new underwater metro:
1) The 16.6 km line runs 10.8 km underground from Howrah Maidan to Phoolbagan, including a tunnel under the Hooghly River – making it the deepest metro rail in the country. The remaining 5.8 km stretch is above ground.
2) One 4.8 km section connects the twin cities of Howrah and Salt Lake, providing a crucial transportation link across this densely populated region.
3) There are six stations on the new line, with three underground stations.
4) The tunnel passes a mere 520 meters under the Hooghly riverbed, allowing trains to cross this stretch in just 45 seconds at a depth of 30 meters.
5) An advanced Automatic Train Operation (ATO) system is used, where the motorman needs to press a button for the train to proceed to the next station automatically.
[Ticket pricing details: Starting at just ₹5 for the first 2 km, fares increase in ₹ five increments up to a maximum of ₹50 for the longest journeys.]
While the section between Esplanade and Sealdah is still under construction, the operational Salt Lake Sector V to Sealdah stretch is already running. Kolkata Metro aims to open the entire East-West corridor from Salt Lake to Howrah Maidan by June or July.
The inaugural underwater service promises to revolutionize transit in the densely-populated region, reducing travel times and easing chronic traffic congestion issues. It marks a significant infrastructure milestone, with India joining a select group of countries operating underground rail lines beneath water bodies.
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