India’s First Underwater Metro Tunnel In Kolkata
This underwater metro service will connect the twin cities of Kolkata and Howrah. The underwater metro tunnel is a part of the Howrah Maidan-Esplanade section of Kolkata Metro’s East-West corridor, which will cover a distance of 4.8 km under the Hooghly river. It is anticipated to cross a 520-meter section beneath the Hooghly in 45 seconds.
Source: KMRC
Connecting Places:
Howrah and Kolkata, two twin cities, will be connected by the Underwater Metro service. The Howrah Maidan-Esplanade segment of the Kolkata Metro's East-West track, which will run 4.8 km beneath the Hooghly swash, includes the Aquatic Metro Tunnel. It is expected to pass under the Hooghly in 45 seconds over a 520-rate segment.
Metro Train Crossing a River
The lower part of the tunnel is 26 meters below the river's surface, and the trains run 16 meters below the riverbed. Of the six, three will be underground stations.
Kolkata Metro's significance: the country's first underwater metro tunnel
Technical Milestone
India's ability to handle complicated infrastructure projects is demonstrated by the underwater metro tunnel, which highlights the country's inventiveness and engineering prowess. Also with India's majority of engineers are being an expertise in civil and construction further increases the employability of the same domain. In an era which is characterized by the unexceptional growth of science and technology, this milestone made India also being in the race for futuristic development.
Historical Achievement
India now belongs to the exclusive group of nations, along with the UK, France, China, and Turkey, that have underwater metro networks. This remarkable advancement marks an important milestone in the field of modern transportation in India.
Being able to cover remote distances via reliable and modern transportation also embarks a level up in the arrival of tourists. As part of economy is always being settled via tourism, an achievement like this only strengthens it.
The Story of India's First Underwater Metro, "520 Metres In 45 Seconds"
The rest is above ground. One segment, spanning 4.8 km, serves as a critical link between Salt Lake and Howrah, the twin cities. The underwater metro has six stations, with three of them underground. The metro covers a 520-meter river stretch in just 45 seconds, promising a quick and efficient mode of transportation. The train is equipped with Automatic Train Operation (ATO), a state-of-the-art system that allows it to move forward to the next station when the motorman pushes a button.
The ticket prices for the underwater metro start at just ₹ 5 for the first two km. Then, it goes up in easy tiers of ₹ 5, ₹ 10, ₹ 15, ₹ 20, ₹ 25, and so on, reaching a maximum of ₹ 50.
Tourism and Economic Boost
The underwater metro section will provide easy access to the heritage and cultural sites of both cities and will also boost tourism and economic activity in the region.
Why did the project take longer than expected to finish?
The project's completion was severely delayed because of an aquifer burst near Bowbazar, central Kolkata, on August 31, 2019. Ground sinking was severe as a result of the incident. The project's completion was delayed in 2022 due to the collapse of several buildings and two additional instances of water leaking at the same location during development.
The Inauguration Event
Next week, the Kolkata Metro Railway's Howrah Maidan-Esplanade section will be officially opened by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Prime Minister will also launch the metro sections at Taratala-Majerhat and Kavi Subhash-Hemanta Mukhopadhyay, according to a government announcement dated March 3. The press release states that improving routes that guarantee convenient urban travel is the main goal.
As to the official announcement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, West Bengal, and Bihar between March 4 and 6. The first transit tunnel beneath "any mighty river in India" is located in the Howrah Maidan-Esplanade section, also known as the East-West Metro Corridor, according to the statement.
The Kavi Subhash-Hemanta Mukhopadhyay metro part of the Kavi Subhash-Airport line, as well as the Taratala-Majerhat segment of the Joka-Esplanade line.
The general manager of Metro Railway, P Uday Kumar Reddy, stated that the goal is to start commercial operations along the entire East-West alignment in the months of June and July of 2024. The Salt Lake Sector V to Sealdah portion of the East-West Metro corridor is currently commercially active.
Conclusion
Kolkata's first underwater metro tunnel is evidence of India's engineering prowess and dedication to infrastructure modernization. The accomplishment of this big project successfully highlights the significance of creative solutions in tackling problems related to urban mobility. With its ongoing investments in revolutionary infrastructure projects, India's underwater metro tunnel is a symbol of advancement and growth for the country.
Author Bios:
- Dr. S. Kavipriya
- Dr. P. Prabhu
- R. Poorani
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