India's first underwater metro service in Kolkata set to launch on March 6

India's first-ever underwater metro service in Kolkata, connecting Howrah and Salt Lake, is set to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 6. This remarkable engineering feat involves a 16.6-kilometer metro tunnel beneath the Hooghly River, with a significant portion covering a depth of 32 meters below the water level. The underwater metro will feature six stations, three of which are underground.

The segment between Howrah Maidan and Esplanade, spanning 4.8 kilometers, is a crucial part of the East-West Metro corridor, linking key areas including the IT hub Salt Lake Sector V. Notably, this section will host the deepest metro station in India at the Howrah Metro station.

Despite the inauguration, passenger services will commence at a later date. The project's completion faced delays, primarily due to challenges such as an aquifer burst in Bowbazar in 2019, leading to significant ground subsidence and building collapses. Additionally, two water leakage incidents occurred during tunnelling and construction work in 2022.

The East-West Metro corridor's construction began in 2009, with tunneling under the River Hooghly initiated in 2017. Although the Salt Lake Sector V to Sealdah stretch of the corridor is currently operational, the inauguration will also include the Kavi Subhash-Hemanta Mukhopadhyay and Taratala-Majerhat metro sections. This infrastructure milestone not only signifies advancements in urban transportation but also showcases India's engineering prowess.