Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked a historic moment by inaugurating India’s inaugural under-river metro tunnel in Kolkata, almost four decades after the commencement of metro services in the country.
The metro tunnel spans beneath Kolkata’s Hooghly River, linking Howrah Maidan to Esplanade. Kolkata proudly became the first Indian city to operate a metro system in 1984. Trains will swiftly traverse a 520-meter stretch under the river in just 45 seconds, significantly easing commuting for residents in both cities. In a symbolic gesture, PM Modi also embarked on a metro ride from Esplanade to Howrah Maidan, accompanied by school children.
The Kolkata Metro is aiming to commence commercial operations on the entire East-West alignment between Salt Lake Sector V and Howrah Maidan in June-July. This development adds to the expanding network of metro rail services, now available in 15 cities across India. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, covering an extensive 393km in the capital city of New Delhi, stands out as a prominent example of the widespread adoption of metro services in the country.
