NewsBytes
    Hindi Tamil Telugu
    More
    In the news
    Narendra Modi
    Amit Shah
    Box Office Collection
    Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
    OTT releases
    Hindi Tamil Telugu
    NewsBytes
    User Placeholder

    Hi,

    Logout

    India
    Business
    World
    Politics
    Sports
    Technology
    Entertainment
    Auto
    Lifestyle
    Inspirational
    Career
    Bengaluru
    Delhi
    Mumbai

    Download Android App

    Follow us on
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Linkedin
    Home / News / India News / Modi inaugurates India's first underwater metro rail service in Kolkata
    Summarize
    Next Article
    Modi inaugurates India's first underwater metro rail service in Kolkata
    PM Modi inaugurated the underwater metro rail service on Wednesday

    Modi inaugurates India's first underwater metro rail service in Kolkata

    By Tanya Shrivastava
    Mar 06, 2024
    11:38 am

    What's the story

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday unveiled India's first underwater metro rail service in Kolkata—the Howrah Maidan-Esplanade section.

    Spanning 4.8 kilometers and built at a cost of Rs. 4,965 crore, this project aims to alleviate traffic congestion and enhance air quality by minimizing carbon emissions.

    According to the Metro Railway, the train will cover the 520-meter underwater stretch in a mere 45 seconds.

    Here's what we know about the project.

    First of its kind

    Key features of the Howrah Maidan-Esplanade section

    The transportation tunnel, part of the East West Metro corridor, is the first of its kind in India.

    "We are traveling about 16 meters below the level of the river water. It is a marvel. We are expecting a daily ridership of 7 lakh," Kolkata Metro Railway General Manager Uday Kumar Reddy told the ANI.

    The tunnel passes beneath the River Hooghly.

    Notably, the Howrah metro station is also the deepest in the country.

    Background

    History and challenges faced by the East-West Metro Corridor project

    Initially proposed in 1921 by the British, an underwater transit system akin to London's was abandoned due to unsuitable soil conditions.

    Construction on the East-West corridor began in 2009, with tunneling beneath the Hooghly River starting in 2017.

    The project faced delays after an aquifer burst in central Kolkata on August 31, 2019, resulting in ground subsidence and building collapses.

    Two more water leakage incidents occurred at the same site in 2022 during tunneling and construction.

    Metro ride

    PM Modi rides in underwater metro train with students

    Following the inauguration, PM Modi took a ride in the metro train with students.

    During the journey, he spoke with school students who were seated in the country's first underwater metro train at the Mahakaran metro station.

    While the Howrah Maidan-Esplanade section was inaugurated, passenger services are expected to start later.

    Twitter Post

    PM Modi interacting with students 

    #WATCH | West Bengal: Prime Minister Narendra Modi travels with school students in India's first underwater metro train in Kolkata. pic.twitter.com/95s42MNWUS

    — ANI (@ANI) March 6, 2024

    Modi's visit

    PM inaugurates other train services in West Bengal

    In addition to the underwater metro train, PM Modi, during the West Bengal leg of his 10-day tour, inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for various other projects worth Rs. 15,400 crore in Kolkata.

    He also launched other train services. These include the Kavi Subhash-Hemanta Mukhopadhyay and Taratala-Majerhat Metro sections to improve mobility.

    He will address a public rally in Barasat in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district later in the day.

    10-day tour

    PM Modi's tour of 12 states

    To recall, PM Modi on Monday embarked on a 10-day tour spanning 12 states and union territories for 29 inauguration and foundation stone laying programs ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

    The PM has been actively touring different states, inaugurating projects, and showcasing his government's achievements over the past decade in preparation for the general election.

    Notably, the Modi government set a goal of winning 370 of the 543 Lok Sabha seats for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

    Facebook
    Whatsapp
    Twitter
    Linkedin
    Related News
    Latest
    Narendra Modi
    Kolkata
    Howrah
    Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

    Latest

    Indian-origin student dies after falling from balcony during Bahamas trip Caribbean Islands
    Menendez brothers now eligible for parole, still remain behind bars Kim Kardashian
    In tit-for-tat move, Pakistan expels Indian diplomat; cites 'incompatible activities' Indian High Commission
    Will WTC final-bound SA players participate in IPL 2025 playoffs?  Aiden Markram

    Narendra Modi

    Raids at ex-J&K Governor Satyapal Malik's premises in corruption case Satya Pal Malik
    AAP, Congress finalize seat-sharing formula for Lok Sabha polls: Reports Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
    PM Modi to visit Bengal, may meet Sandeshkhali violence victims West Bengal
    Amid Sandeshkhali row, ED files new case against Sheikh Shahjahan Enforcement Directorate (ED)

    Kolkata

    Kolkata: Outrage after college denies admission to non-English medium students West Bengal
    Mamata Banerjee may undergo knee surgery for ligament injury Mamata Banerjee
    Assam: Engineer's COVID-19 lockdown love story ends in triple murder Assam
    Commercial LPG cylinder price reduced by Rs. 100 LPG Cylinder

    Howrah

    Letter demands Rs.50 crore from Eastern Railway; threatens CM Banerjee Mamata Banerjee
    West Bengal: Six more districts to become ODF by March-end West Bengal
    Amazing! 12-year-old, who never went to school, qualifies for board-exam West Bengal
    Zomato 'forcing' us to deliver beef and pork: Delivery executives India

    Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

    Former Maharashtra Congress MLA Basavaraj Patil likely to join BJP Maharashtra
    Rajya Sabha polls: 36% candidates declare criminal cases against themselves Election Commission of India (ECI)
    Lok Sabha elections: AAP announces candidates for Delhi, Haryana Arvind Kejriwal
    Excise policy case: Kejriwal receives 8th ED summons Arvind Kejriwal
    Indian Premier League (IPL) Celebrity Hollywood Bollywood UEFA Champions League Tennis Football Smartphones Cryptocurrency Upcoming Movies Premier League Cricket News Latest automobiles Latest Cars Upcoming Cars Latest Bikes Upcoming Tablets
    About Us Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Contact Us Ethical Conduct Grievance Redressal News News Archive Topics Archive Download DevBytes Find Cricket Statistics
    Follow us on
    Facebook Twitter Linkedin
    All rights reserved © NewsBytes 2025