Kolkata Metro runs through tunnel below Hooghly, first in India to complete under-river journey
This is a “revolutionary step” in providing a modern transport system to the people of Kolkata and its suburbs, the official said.
3 min read
Kolkata Metro rake runs through a tunnel under the Hooghly river, in Kolkata, April 12, 2023. (PTI) Kolkata Metro Wednesday (April 12) became the first metro rail in the country to make an under-river journey as its rakes passed through an underwater tunnel below the Hooghly river.
Kolkata Metro general manager P Uday Kumar Reddy travelled from Mahakaran to Howrah Maidan station in rake No. MR-612, which crossed the Hooghly river at 11:55 am. Additional general manager and Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation Limited (KMRCL) MD H N Jaiswal, as well as other senior officers, accompanied him during this journey. Reddy offered puja at the Howrah station once the rake reached there. Later, rake No MR- 613 was also taken to the Howrah Maidan station. Flowers were sprinkled and coconuts were broken to welcome the rakes.
Senior officials aboard Kolkata Metro rake as it runs through a tunnel under the Hooghly river, in Kolkata, April 12, 2023. (PTI)
The Metro is expected to cover the 520-metre stretch under the river in 45 seconds. This tunnel under the river is 32 metres below the water level.
“This is a historic moment for Metro Railway. After overcoming many hurdles, we have succeeded in running rakes beneath the Hooghly river, a revolutionary step in providing a modern transport system to the people of Kolkata and its suburbs. This is indeed a special new year gift from Indian Railways for the people of Bengal,” said Kausik Mitra, chief public relations officer of Kolkata Metro.
“Terming it a historic event, the general manager has informed that the trial runs from Howrah Maidan to Esplanade will be conducted for the next seven months before regular services on this stretch begin. All the staff, and engineers of the KMRCL, under whose efforts and supervision this engineering marvel has been achieved, are happy that their dreams have come true,” said a senior official.
Trial runs on the 4.8-km underground section from Howrah Maidan to Esplanade will soon begin. Esplanade, Mahakaran, Howrah, and Howrah Maidan are the four stations. Once this stretch opens, Howrah will become the country’s deepest Metro station (33 metres below the surface). Commercial services on this stretch are expected to start later this year.
The East-West Metro Corridor (Green Line) has now been operational from Salt Lake Sector V to Sealdah stations over a stretch of 9.3 km. The stretch between Howrah Maidan and Esplanade will provide an interchange point at Esplanade with the North-South Corridor (Blue Line).
India’s first underwater (subaqueous tunnel) rail system connects the Howrah station complex on the western bank of the Hooghly river to Armenian Ghat on the eastern bank.
You May Like
Photos
