India’s inaugural underwater metro line commenced its public service in Kolkata, West Bengal, on Friday, marking the country’s first-ever train journey beneath water. Commuters eagerly lined up for the opportunity to ride on this remarkable engineering feat, with many expressing their patriotism through chants of ‘Vande Bharat’ and ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’.
The journey began at 7 am from the Howrah Maidan station on the East-West metro corridor, with another train departing from Esplanade station simultaneously. The Howrah Maidan-Esplanade section of Kolkata’s metro network passes beneath the Hooghly River, with the under-river tunnel spanning 520 meters.
Passengers were seen expressing their gratitude and excitement, with one holding a placard thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for making India proud. Another passenger expressed excitement, noting that it took only 10 minutes to purchase tickets for the underwater metro ride.
The underwater tunnel is illuminated with blue LED lights to simulate the ambiance of the Hooghly River’s depths. The underwater metro is scheduled to operate every 12 to 15 minutes on weekdays, with the last service departing at 9:45 pm in both directions.
Prime Minister Modi inaugurated metro operations in Kolkata on March 6, where he also took a ride with school students, engaging in conversations with them and the metro staff. The inauguration included the Kavi Subhash – Hemanta Mukhopadhyay Metro section and the Taratala – Majerhat Metro section, part of the Joka-Esplanade line.
The Majerhat Metro Station, part of the latter section, is an architectural marvel, spanning railway lines, platforms, and a canal, showcasing innovative approaches to urban mobility.
During the inauguration, PM Modi also launched multiple connectivity projects worth Rs 15,400 crore across the country, including the Pune Metro’s extension, Kochi Metro Rail Phase I Extension, Agra Metro’s stretch, and the Esplanade Metro in Kolkata.