Kolkata : Prime Minister Narendra Modi showcased a series of metro projects nationwide on Wednesday, introducing India’s inaugural underwater metro line in Kolkata. The Rs 4,965-crore Howrah Maidan-Esplanade section of Kolkata Metro’s East-West Corridor, boasting the nation’s first transportation tunnel beneath a significant river, was inaugurated by the Prime Minister. Notably, the stretch houses the deepest metro station in the country—the Howrah metro station.
Following the inaugural ceremony, Modi embarked on a metro journey from Esplanade to Howrah Maidan, accompanied by school children. The underwater segment of the tunnel spans 520 meters, with trains traversing it in approximately 45 seconds, according to officials.
From the Esplanade metro station, the Prime Minister also inaugurated the Kavi Subhash-Hemanta Mukhopadhyay section of the New Garia-Aiport line and the Taratala-Majerhat section of the Joka-Esplanade line of the Kolkata Metro, India’s oldest metro network. The Majerhat metro station is a remarkable elevated structure traversing railway lines, platforms, and a canal, as noted in an official statement.
Furthermore, Modi inaugurated the Duhai-Modinagar (North) section of the Delhi-Meerut RRTS Corridor, Pune Metro’s Ruby Hall Clinic-Ramwadi stretch, Kochi Metro’s SN Junction to Tripunithura section, and Agra Metro’s Taj East Gate-Mankameshwar section. Additionally, he laid the foundation stone for the Pune Metro extension between Pimpri Chinchwad and Nigdi.
These newly introduced sections are poised to alleviate road congestion and provide seamless, convenient, and comfortable connectivity, according to the statement. The inaugurated section of the Agra Metro is set to enhance connectivity to historical tourist destinations, while the 17-kilometer segment of the RRTS will stimulate economic activity in the National Capital Region (NCR).
