India's first underwater metro line: Here to know full facts

by Psu Connect
Date: 07-03-24

The route is stretched over 4.8 km where one section connects Howrah and Salt Lake, providing a vital link between these twin cities.

India's first underwater metro line: Here to know full facts

The tunnel is expected to be the biggest underwater river tunnel in India, which is made for metro rail service. Kolkata's new underwater metro is 16.6 km long and about 10.8 km runs underground from Howrah Maidan to Phoolbagan, including the tunnel under the Hooghly River, making it the deepest in the country.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the country's first-ever underwater metro, the Howrah Maidan-Esplanade Metro section in Kolkata.

The route is stretched over 4.8 km where one section connects Howrah and Salt Lake, providing a vital link between these twin cities.

The underwater metro has six stations, with three of them underground. The metro covers a 520 m river stretch in just 45 seconds, promising a quick and efficient mode of transportation. The tunnel is used by the East-West Metro Line for metro rail service by Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation.

The train uses Automatic Train Operation (ATO), a cutting-edge system where the train advances to the next station when the motorman presses a button. While the part between Esplanade and Sealdah is still under construction, the operational stretch from Salt Lake Sector 5 to Sealdah is up and running.

Kolkata Metro plans to start the full East-West route between Salt Lake Sector V and Howrah Maidan in June or July. In April 2023, the Kolkata Metro made history by running a train successfully through the tunnel beneath the Hooghly River.