Kolkata is set to welcome India’s first underwater metro train that will allow commuters to travel across the Hooghly river that separates the West Bengal capital from Howrah. Metro officials conducted a trail run from Howrah Maidan to Esplanade on April 12, with only officials and engineers on board. The underwater metro line is expected to be open to passengers by the end of 2023.
“The trial run will be done between Howrah Maidan and Esplanade station for the next five to seven months, after which regular services will start on this section,” said P Udaya Kumar Reddy, general manager of Metro Railway.
How is Kolkata planning to operate an underwater metro line?
The authorities have constructed a tunnel under the river hooghly With an inner diameter of 5.55 m and an outer diameter of 6.1 m. The construction of the tunnel has been completed with the help of Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM). The German made TBMs named Prerna and Rachana completed the task in a record 66 days.
According to an official quoted by the news platform The Indian Express, the authorities took several measures to stop the flow and leakage of water in the tunnel. A concrete mix made of fly-ash and micro-silica is used to avoid water permeation.
The task was particularly challenging as there were many historic buildings in the areas surrounding the underwater tunnel and officials had to ensure that no damage was done to the buildings as part of the process.
Kolkata Underwater Metro: Part of the East-West Metro Corridor
East-West Metro Corridor Kolkata It consists of a tunnel that spans 520 meters and connects the IT hub of Salt Lake Sector V in the east to Howrah Maidan in the west, crossing the river. With this Metro route, the travel time between Howrah and Sealdah can be reduced to 40 minutes as compared to 1.5 hours by road, which will also help in reducing traffic congestion at both the ends.
The tunnel is located 13 meters below the river bed and 33 meters below the surface level. As per reports, the tunnel will consist of four stations – Esplanade, Mahakaran, Howrah and Howrah Maidan – and will take only 45 seconds to cross.
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