Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a metro train service between Howrah Maidan and Esplanade in Kolkata, marking the opening of India’s first under-river tunnel. The 4.8-km tunnel between Howrah Maidan and Esplanade includes a 1.2-km section, positioned 30 meters below the Hooghly River, establishing it as the country’s first transportation tunnel beneath a significant river. The PM was seen boarding the metro with students and was even spotted interacting with them.

The Central Railways has said that the passenger services will commence at a later date. The Prime Minister, upon reaching the metro station was greeted by an enthusiastic crowd at.

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Expansion of Kolkata’s Metro Network

In addition to the Howrah Maidan-Esplanade section, PM Modi will also inaugurated the metro railway services from Kavi Subhash Metro, Majerhat Metro, Kochi Metro, Agra Metro, Meerut-RRTS section, Pune Metro, Esplanade Metro- Kolkata, further expanding Kolkata’s metro network.

East-West Metro Corridor Project

The tunnel forms part of the East-West Metro Corridor project, stretching from Sector V to Sealdah, with future expansion planned to Howrah Maidan, spanning a total of 16.6 km, of which 10.8 km is underground. Identified in Kolkata’s master plan in 1971, the project received approval in July 2008, drawing inspiration from Kolkata’s pioneering metro and the success of Delhi’s metro network.

Cost and Significance of the Project

The 4.8-km East-West Metro stretch, costing Rs 4,138 crore, aims to alleviate traffic congestion, enhance air quality, and improve mass transit accessibility. Kausik Mitra, Chief Public Relation Officer of Metro Railways, told PTI that there are significant benefits for commuters from distant areas such as Hooghly, Midnapore, and Howrah, as well as neighboring states. The metro’s swift journey under the river promises speed and efficiency, contributing to Kolkata’s connectivity and urban mobility.

Project Timeline and Challenges

The East-West Metro corridor project commenced in 2009, with tunneling under the River Hooghly starting in 2017. Delays, including aquifer bursts and ground subsidence, have impacted the project’s completion timeline.

Railway Development in West Bengal

The project aligns with efforts to complete pending railway infrastructure projects in West Bengal, with a substantial increase in budget allocation over the past nine years.

Senior railway officials highlighted a substantial increase in the budget outlay for West Bengal, reflecting a commitment to expedite pending metro railway projects in Kolkata and surrounding areas.

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Expenditure on metro projects in Kolkata and its vicinity surged from Rs 5,981 crore before 2014 to Rs 18,212 crore between 2014 and 2023, reflecting a significant acceleration in project completion efforts, reported PTI.