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Kolkata: Historic, Kolkata Metro successfully operated the underwater metro rail for the first time in India. During this trial, the metro rail was operated from a 520 meter tunnel under the Hooghly river.
This was the first time in India’s metro history that a metro train was operated underwater. The occasion has come almost 40 years after the launch of the Kolkata Metro.
By the way, the rail had started in India about 170 years ago, then India was ruled by the British. But today India has created history by operating underwater metro on its own.
India’s first under water Metro trial run takes place from Kolkata’s Esplanade to Howrah Maidan today it will continue for seven months and then the regular service will commence for the passengers. pic.twitter.com/kEwm7Ic0hd
— Syeda Shabana (@ShabanaANI2) April 12, 2023
“Congratulations!!! INDIA tests underwater (Hooghly River, Calcutta, West Bengal) metro rail. South Asia and India’s giant underwater river tunnel is made for metro rail service. Proud moment,” another user wrote.
Congratulations!!! INDIA tests underwater (Hooghly River, Calcutta, West Bengal) metro rail. South Asia and India's giant underwater river tunnel is made for metro rail service.
Proud moment.#KolkataMetro #Indian #SouthAsia pic.twitter.com/bb5ejSaRg9— Creative slumdog (He/Him) (@jpt162076) April 12, 2023
With this historic operation of the metro, India’s Kolkata city has joined cities like London, Paris, New York, Shanghai and Cairo where this type of metro is operated. In London, the metro train is operated from under the River Thames.
Apart from this, the metro train is operated from under the river Seine in Paris, the capital of France. Similarly, this type of metro is also operated in the American city of New York, situated on the banks of the Hudson River.
Underwater metro rail is also operated in Shanghai, the city called the industrial capital of China. This type of metro is also operated in the African city of Cairo.
Kolkata Metro GM Uday Kumar Reddy told that metro services on this route can start from this year itself. With its opening, Howrah Metro station will become the country’s deepest metro station (about 33 meters below).
The two tunnels built for metro travel are a special part of this east-west metro which will provide a different experience to the passengers. During the journey, passengers will pass under water for about half a kilometer, which will be a special experience for them.
The journey will be completed in 27 minutes
For its operation, the construction of twin tunnels under the Hooghly river was completed six years back, but some difficulties were faced in its construction near the congested Bowbazar area.
With the challenges in the cave-in zone between Sealdah and Esplanade yet to be resolved, the builders are looking to operationalize a shorter service of 4.8 km between Esplanade and Howrah Maidan by the end of this year.
After its complete construction, the travel time between Howrah Maidan and Sector V, Kolkata Metro’s Green Line will take just 27 minutes.
Trial will goes on for 7 months
Metro Rail GM P. Udaya Kumar Reddy also told that regular trial run of trains on this route will be started soon. Along with this, he also told that for the next seven months, the operation of the metro on this route will be continued in the same way, after which it will be started for the general public.
