NEWS – India’s first underwater Metro line inaugurated in Kolkata

HIGHLIGHTS

• Part of Kolkata Metro’s Esplanade-Howrah Maidan section – passes below the mighty Hooghly river
• 26 meters below the river’s surface + trains set to operate 16 meters beneath the riverbed
• Total length is 16.6 km long. About 10.8 km runs underground from Howrah Maidan to Phoolbagan, including the tunnel under the Hooghly River, making it the deepest in the country. The rest is above ground.
• Stretching over 4.8 km, one section connects Howrah and Salt Lake, providing a vital link between these twin cities.
• The underwater metro has six stations, with three of them underground.
• The metro covers a 520 m river stretch in just 45 seconds, promising a quick and efficient mode of transportation.
• The train uses Automatic Train Operation (ATO), a cutting-edge system where the train advances to the next station when the motorman presses a button
• Benefit – significantly alleviate traffic congestion in Kolkata