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Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw affirms that Kolkata's first underwater metro, a pioneering project in India, will open in the near future. You can watch the video for more details.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav expressed optimism in his statement on Wednesday that the Howrah Maidan to Esplanade section of the East-West Metro, which is situated 16 meters below the Hooghly River, will be open to the public soon, taking all necessary precautions. According to a railway spokesperson, it is expected that the route will be accessible to the public by December of this year.
A video released on Twitter by the Ministry of Railways shows Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inspecting the work while sitting on a trolley inside the tunnel, starting from Howrah Maidan station and concluding at Esplanade station on the opposite side of the river.
The minister expressed satisfaction with the progress of the entire stretch. After the inspection, he conveyed his hope to railway officials that the Howrah Maidan-Esplanade section would be opened for public use by December 2023.
This metro station will be the deepest in India, consisting of four underground levels spread over an area of 5 lakh square feet, situated 33 meters below the surface. On April 12 of this year, a train passed through a tunnel under the Hooghly River, marking a historic moment for the country.
The railway minister emphasized the need to collaborate with the state government for support in various aspects such as law and order and land acquisition for all projects. Ample funds have been allocated for the city's metro projects, and the central government is closely monitoring the progress. A total of Rs 11,900 crore has been allocated for various railway projects in the state, including the Metro Railway, in stark contrast to the meager allocation before 2014.
Once operational, the Metro corridor will connect the neighboring cities of Howrah and Kolkata and accommodate 6.7 lakh passengers daily, as stated by a Metro spokesperson. This development will greatly enhance transportation connectivity in the region.
