PM Modi To Dedicate India's First Underwater Metro Section In Kolkata Today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate India's first-ever underwater metro section in Kolkata on Wednesday. The landmark project, a testament to the nation's progress, promises to revolutionise transportation in the bustling city.

The underwater service is a key segment of the Howrah Maidan-Esplanade section of Kolkata Metro's East-West corridor, spanning a distance of 16.6 km beneath the Hooghly river. This metro service will link Howrah with Salt Lake, the twin cities of West Bengal's state capital, with three of its six stations situated underground.

One of the most remarkable features of this underwater metro is its ability to traverse a 520-metre stretch under the Hooghly river in just 45 seconds, significantly reducing travel time between the two banks.

The inauguration ceremony, slated for Wednesday, will witness the presence of top officials and dignitaries. However, while the inauguration is set for Wednesday, the commencement of passenger services will begin at a later date, as confirmed by Kaushik Mitra, the Chief Public Relations Officer of the Eastern Railway.

This unveiling follows closely on the heels of another significant milestone achieved by Kolkata Metro in April 2023, when it conducted trial runs with a train passing through the underwater tunnel for the first time in India's history.

In addition to the inauguration of the underwater metro tunnel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also inaugurate the Kavi Subhash-Hemanta Mukhopadhyay and Taratala-Majerhat Metro sections in Kolkata today, further enhancing the city's connectivity and infrastructure.

Later in the afternoon, the Prime Minister is scheduled to address a public rally in Barasat, North 24 Parganas district, underlining the government's commitment to holistic development and progress across the nation.