Kolkata: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday inaugurated India’s first-ever underwater Metro route in Kolkata, marking a significant milestone in infrastructure development of the country. Additionally, he laid the foundation stones for multiple connectivity projects valued at Rs 15,400 crore.
The Metro railway services inaugurated by the Prime Minister on Wednesday also included operations from various stations, including Kavi Subhash Metro, Esplanade section of the Kolkata Metro, Majerhat Metro, Agra Metro, Kochi Metro, Meerut-RRTS section and the Pune Metro.
PM Shri @narendramodi inaugurates, dedicates & lays foundation stone of projects in Kolkata, West Bengal. https://t.co/hnB7UjSikB
— BJP (@BJP4India) March 6, 2024
The underwater service forms part of the Howrah Maidan-Esplanade section of Kolkata Metro’s East-West corridor, spanning 16.6 km beneath the Hooghly river and connecting Howrah and Salt Lake. Three of the six stations are located underground and the underwater journey covers a 520-metre stretch under the Hooghly river in just 45 seconds.
The inauguration ceremony witnessed the presence of top officials and dignitaries. Passenger services for the underwater metro will commence at a later date.
#WestBengal: PM @narendramodi interacts with school students as he travels with them in India’s first underwater metro train in #Kolkata. @metrorailwaykol @RailMinIndia pic.twitter.com/75rA3fVb0x
— DD News (@DDNewslive) March 6, 2024
Accompanied by several school students, Prime Minister Modi took a ride on the underwater metro, interacting with them during the journey.
Less than a year ago, in April 2023, Kolkata Metro made history by conducting trials for running a train through the underwater tunnel, a first in India.
Kaushik Mitra, the Chief Public Relations Officer of the Eastern Railway, described the underwater metro service as “a gift from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the people of Kolkata,” fulfilling a long-cherished dream.
Also Read: PM Modi inaugurates mega development projects worth over Rs 19,600 crores in Odisha
Besides the underwater Metro tunnel, the Prime Minister also inaugurated the Kavi Subhash-Hemanta Mukhopadhyay and the Taratala-Majerhat Metro sections in Kolkata.
Later on Wednesday afternoon, Modi is scheduled to address a public rally in Barasat, North 24 Parganas district.
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