India's first metro line 'under any mighty river' in Kolkata

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India's first metro line "Under any Mighty River" in Kolkata on 6^th March 2024, a landmark project showcasing the nation's infrastructure development.

The Howrah Maidan-Esplanade section, a groundbreaking addition to the metropolitan transportation network, is acclaimed as India's first metro tunnel beneath a significant river.
This underwater marvel, situated beneath the Hooghly River that divides Kolkata and Howrah, boasts the country's deepest metro station, the Howrah Metro Station.

The completion of a trial journey in April 2023 marked a significant milestone for the Kolkata Metro, navigating a tunnel 32 meters below the water level.

The concept of an underwater transportation system, akin to London's, was initially proposed by the British in 1921, according to researchers. The 4.8-km stretch of the East-West Metro from Howrah Maidan to Esplanade, built for Rs 4,965 crore, is a testament to engineering ingenuity and a historic advancement in India's metro infrastructure.

5 Facts about Kolkata's New Underwater Metro:

1. Kolkata's new underwater metro is 16.6 km long. About 10.8 km runs underground from Howrah Maidan to Phoolbagan, including the tunnel under the Hooghly River, making it the deepest in the country. The rest is above ground.
2. Stretching over 4.8 km, one section connects Howrah and Salt Lake, providing a vital link between these twin cities.
3. The underwater metro has six stations, with three of them underground.
4. The metro covers a 520 m river stretch in just 45 seconds, promising a quick and efficient mode of transportation.
5. The train uses Automatic Train Operation (ATO), a cutting-edge system where the train advances to the next station when the motorman presses a button.