India’s First Underwater Metro Inaugurated by PM Modi in Kolkata
Kolkata, West Bengal: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for a slew of urban mobility projects worth a staggering ₹15,400 crore in Kolkata. These projects aim to significantly improve connectivity and decongest traffic in the bustling city.
The highlight of the day was the inauguration of the Howrah Maidan-Esplanade section of the Kolkata Metro. This section boasts India’s first underwater metro transportation tunnel, a feat of engineering that goes beneath the mighty Hooghly River. The Howrah Metro Station, situated on this line, also holds the distinction of being the deepest metro station in the country.
Prime Minister Modi, in a series of social media posts, expressed his delight at the project’s completion. He lauded the “shramiks” (workers) who made it possible and shared his experience riding the new underwater metro line with young students.
Other projects inaugurated today included:
- Kavi Subhash – Hemanta Mukhopadhyay Metro section (Kolkata)
- Taratala – Majerhat Metro section (part of Joka- Esplanade line, Kolkata) featuring a unique elevated station over railway lines and a canal
- Pune Metro (Ruby Hall Clinic to Ramwadi stretch)
- Kochi Metro Rail Phase I Extension (Phase IB)
- Agra Metro (Taj East Gate to Mankameshwar) for better connectivity to historical sites
- Duhai-Modinagar (North) section of Delhi-Meerut RRTS Corridor
The inauguration of these sections marks a significant step towards enhancing urban mobility in various Indian cities. They are expected to ease traffic congestion, provide seamless connectivity, and boost economic activity in the National Capital Region (NCR) in the case of the RRTS project.
The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for the extension of the Pune Metro Rail project Phase 1 between Pimpri Chinchwad Metro-Nigdi.
