Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate India’s first-ever under-river metro tunnel in Kolkata on March 6, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw revealed on Saturday. Vaishnaw highlighted the significant progress made on the Kolkata Metro project in the last decade, compared to the previous 40 years. He credited this focus on infrastructure development to Prime Minister Modi’s vision of building a strong foundation for a developed India by 2047. The under-river tunnel is part of the East-West Metro corridor, one of the several phases of the Kolkata Metro project.
Kolkata’s under-river metro tunnel
Situated beneath the Hooghly River, the tunnel holds the distinction of being India’s first underwater river tunnel designed for metro rail service. Spanning a length of 10.8 kms and with a width of 5.5 meters, a 520-meter segment of the tunnel traverses under the Hooghly River, with its roof approximately 30 meters below ground level. Completed in 2021, the tunnel serves the East-West Metro Line and was constructed by the Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation.
Significant reduction in travel time
The metro train is expected to cover the distance in less than a minute, offering passengers a unique experience. Once this section is operational, Howrah will become the deepest metro station in the country, located 32 to 33 meters below the surface.
The train is likely to significantly reduce commute times for passengers. Currently, Kolkata‘s Green Line spans a short distance of 6.97 km between Sector V in east Kolkata and Phoolbagan. However, with this new initiative, the train will travel a longer distance from Sector V to Howrah, passing under the Hooghly River, in just 27 minutes.
Airtel to provide connectivity
Airtel has announced plans to ensure uninterrupted connectivity for metro passengers by installing high-capacity nodes 35 meters below the surface of the Hooghly River.
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