Hooghly Tunnel: India’s First Underwater Railway Tunnel And Station

India got its first underwater metro tunnel in Hooghly. Now Kolkata has joined the list of major cities including London, Shanghai, New York, Paris & Cairo.

Kolkata Metro successfully conducted the country’s first underwater trial runs on Wednesday. In a historic moment for India’s transportation system, a metro train rake successfully traversed through a tunnel beneath a river for the first time. 

Officials and engineers were onboard the metros as it ran under the Hooghly River, connecting Kolkata to Howrah. 

The rail corporation’s achievement was shared on Twitter by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who referred to it as “an encouraging direction for public transport in India.” The Prime Minister has shared a video that was initially uploaded by Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

According to officials, the recent trials of the underwater metro in Kolkata signify a groundbreaking advancement in modern transportation for the city’s residents. 

During the trials, it was reported that another train also arrived at Howrah Maidan station via the same route. 

The upcoming stretch of Kolkata Metro, connecting Howrah Maidan to Esplanade Station, is set to undergo trial runs in the next 5-7 months. Once the trials are completed, the metro services will commence for the public.

The Howrah Maidan Metro stop is set to become the deepest in the country, reaching a depth of 33 meters beneath the surface once the route is fully operational. 

According to sources, the recently constructed tunnel beneath the Hooghly river is reportedly situated 32 meters below the water’s surface level. The Metro authorities have estimated that the train is expected to cover the 520-meter distance in just 45 seconds. 

The East-West Metro corridor, which connects Howrah Maidan and Salt Lake City’s information technology hub, Sector V, is currently operating partially between Sealdah and Sector V stations. 

The East-West Metro corridor spans a total of 16.6 km, with 10.8 km of it running underground beneath the Hooghly River between Howrah Maidan and Phoolbagan. The remaining distance is elevated, and is operated by the corridor’s operating company.

Kolkata is set to join the ranks of major cities such as London, Shanghai, New York, Paris, and Cairo with the upcoming launch of its underwater metro service. 

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