Kolkata: The inauguration of India's first underwater metro line marked a historic moment in Kolkata today, as commuters eagerly queued up for the inaugural ride on the country's maiden underwater train journey. The launch of the underwater metro, an engineering marvel, elicited applause and patriotic chants of 'Vande Matram' and 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' from the excited passengers.
At 7 am, the first trains departed from both the Howrah Maidan and Esplanade stations, initiating operations on the East-West metro corridor of Kolkata. The section connecting Howrah Maidan to Esplanade passes beneath the Hooghly River, with the under-river tunnel stretching 520 meters long. Metro Railway Kolkata shared the milestone moment on social media, announcing the commencement of commercial service at the newly inaugurated Majerhat station on the Purple Line.
Passengers expressed their gratitude to Prime Minister Modi for spearheading such a significant infrastructure achievement, with one placard reading, "Thank you very much Modi ji for making India proud." Excitement filled the air as travelers shared their anticipation for experiencing India's inaugural underwater metro journey, with ticket procurement taking merely 10 minutes.
The tunnel's aesthetic features, adorned with blue LED lights, provided a captivating ambiance reminiscent of the river's depths. The underwater metro is scheduled to operate on weekdays, with trains running every 12 to 15 minutes in this section until the last service at 9:45 pm.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Kolkata metro operations on March 6, and he also partook in a metro ride with school students following the inauguration. During his journey, PM Modi interacted with passengers and metro staff, underscoring the significance of this transformative project.
In addition to the underwater metro, PM Modi inaugurated the Kavi Subhash - Hemanta Mukhopadhyay Metro section and the Taratala - Majerhat Metro section, integral parts of the Joka-Esplanade line. Notably, the Majerhat Metro Station stands as an architectural marvel, showcasing innovative design concepts for urban mobility enhancement.
The Prime Minister also unveiled and initiated multiple connectivity projects worth ₹ 15,400 crore across the country. These include the Pune Metro's Ruby Hall Clinic to Ramwadi stretch, Kochi Metro Rail Phase I Extension from SN Junction to Tripunithura, and the Agra Metro's Taj East Gate to Mankameshwar section, among others.
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