In Kolkata on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially opened India’s first underwater metro station. In the City of Joy, he also rode the metro underwater with schoolchildren. A sizable throng greeted the prime minister when he arrived at the metro station Esplanade. “Jai Shri Ram” and “Modi Modi” were being chanted by the crowd. Additionally, Modi placed the ₹15,400 crore foundation stone for other connectivity projects.
The Howrah Maidan-Esplanade section of the Kolkata Metro, the country’s first underwater transportation tunnel, connects key areas like Salt Lake Sector V. The 4.8-km stretch, built at a cost of ₹4,965 crore, connects the Howrah metro station to Esplanade, the deepest metro station in India. This vital segment of the East-West Metro corridor is a vital part of Kolkata Metro’s infrastructure.
Important details of this undersea metro tube
The East-West Metro, covering 16.6 km, includes 10.8 km of underground tracks, including a tunnel beneath the river, according to a PTI report. The entire route has 12 stations, with the train expected to traverse the 520-meter stretch in 45 seconds. The TOI report states ticket prices start at ₹5 for the first two kilometers and increase to ₹50 depending on station distance. This enhances Kolkata’s connectivity and urban mobility.
On the other hand, the PM also opened the oldest metro system in the nation, the Kolkata Metro, by dedicating the Taratala-Majerhat segment of the Joka-Esplanade line and the Kavi Subhash-Hemanta Mukhopadhyay part of the New Garia-Aiport line. The service is intended to improve communication between Howrah and Salt Lake, the capital twin towns of West Bengal.
It is a major part of the Kolkata Metro’s East-West corridor, with this plan, traffic congestion in Kolkata is expected to be much reduced, and road transportation will be replaced with a more effective and sustainable option. 10.8 kilometers of the East-West Metro route would be subterranean, with the remaining 5.75 kilometers being raised, according to information released by the Ministry of Railways. It is anticipated that this combination of elevated and underground pathways would significantly enhance urban mobility in the metropolis.
First ride on the Kolkata Underwater Metro with students by PM Modi
Narendra Modi inaugurated India’s first “underwater Metro tunnel” with school students in Kolkata, marking a significant milestone in the nation’s infrastructure advancement. The Howrah Maidan-Esplanade section, located beneath a river, is part of the East-West Metro corridor, with a budget of Rs 4,965 crore. The 4.8-km segment, which includes the deepest Metro station in India, Howrah, is designed to provide seamless connectivity to areas like the IT hub Salt Lake Sector V.
![Watch] PM Modi Takes First Ride In Kolkata Underwater Metro With Students; Check Features & Ticket Price - odishabytes](https://odishabytes.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/METRO-PM-e1709704956439.jpg)
To connect Howrah and Salt Lake, Kolkata plans to introduce passenger service on the Howrah Maidan-Esplanade segment of the Kolkata Metro. With six stations, the subterranean metro travels 520 meters under the Hooghly River in 45 seconds. With six stops, three of which will be underground, the Howrah Maidan-Esplanade stretch will be the deepest in all of India. For the first two kilometers of the underwater metro, tickets cost Rs 5, and for easier stages, they go up to Rs 50. To increase urban mobility, the PM also emphasized additional rail services in Kolkata, such as the Kavi Subhash-Hemanta Mukhopadhyay and the Taratala-Majerhat Metro portions.
