In a Historic Moment, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India’s first ever under-river metro tunnel in Kolkata today, 6th March 2024. The tunnel will connect Howrah Maidan to the Esplanade, and traverse beneath the Hooghly River, marking a significant milestone in the city’s transportation infrastructure.
Moreover, Modi embarked on a metro ride with the school students experiencing first hand the marks of the underwater metro service. Before the inauguration students delight at the opportunity to travel with the Prime Minister on this ground breaking journey.
East-west metro corridor is a link between Kolkata and Howrah city
The newly inaugurated Howrah Maidan-Esplanade section is a part of the east-west metro corridor of 4.8 kilometres which forms a crucial link between Kolkata and Howrah city, enhancing connectivity and easing travel for commuters. Notably, a 520-meter stretch under the Hooghly River will be covered in a remarkable 45 seconds, promising swift and efficient transportation.
10.8 KM out of 16.6 KM of the East-West Metro constitute the underground corridor, including the tunnel beneath the Hooghly River. The remainder of the stretch comprises an elevated corridor ensuring seamless connectivity across Kolkata and its suburbs.
“This underwater metro service is a gift from our Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the people of Kolkata,” remarked Kaushik Mitra, Chief Public Relations Officer of the Eastern Railway, highlighting the transformative impact of the project. Interestingly, the inauguration of the underwater metro tunnel comes less than a year after the historic trial run conducted by the Kolkata Metro in April 2023, further illustrating the city’s pioneering spirit.
Additionally, PM Modi also unveiled the Kavi Subhash-Hemanta Mukhopadhya and Taratala Majerhat Metro Stations, reinforcing the centre’s commitment to modernizing the Kolkata metro network.
Furthermore, Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the Ramakrishna Mission Seva Pratishthan, where he inquired about the health of Swami Smarananandaji Maharaj, reflects his deep reverence for spiritual institutions and commitment to the well-being of all citizens.
Launch of Agra Metro’s “Priority Corridor”
Moreover, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also launched the Agra Metro’s “Priority Corridor” which aims to provide direct access to key tourist attractions like the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort. It was done via video conference (VC) today on 6th March 2024 along with UP CM Yogi Adityanath.
After the inauguration, metro train operations on the ‘priority corridor’ will commence, according to UPMRCL officials. The Agra Metro system aims to facilitate seamless interconnectivity among UNESCO World Heritage sites in Agra, catering to the large influx of tourists visiting the city daily.
