PM Modi Takes Inaugural Ride on Kolkata’s East-West Corridor Metro With School Students
Kolkata, 6th March 2024: In a historic event on March 6, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India’s first underwater metro line in Kolkata, marking a significant milestone in urban transportation. The highlight of the inauguration was PM Modi’s immersive metro ride from Esplanade to Howrah Maidan, accompanied by enthusiastic school children, symbolizing a groundbreaking era in metro connectivity.
The ceremony, showcasing multiple metro projects nationwide, emphasized the introduction of the Esplanade-Howrah Maidan section, a crucial segment of the East-West Corridor. Spanning 4.8 km and constructed at a cost of ₹4,960 crore, this section showcases India’s engineering excellence and features the country’s first-ever underwater transportation tunnel beneath the formidable Hooghly River.
During the metro journey through the underwater tunnel, PM Modi interacted with metro staff and engaged with the young students sharing the experience. Before embarking on the ride, he was greeted by an exuberant crowd of supporters chanting ‘Modi Modi’ and ‘Jai Shree Ram.’
The inauguration also included the Taratala-Majherhat section of the Joka-Esplanade line (1.25 km, ₹520 crore) and the Kavi Subhash-Hemanta Mukhopadhyay section of the New Garia-Airport line (₹1,430 crore). The event, aimed at easing traffic congestion and enhancing connectivity, celebrated the uniqueness of the Howrah Maidan-Esplanade section with its groundbreaking underwater tunnel.
The collective value of the unveiled metro projects, approximately ₹15,400 crore, represents a significant leap forward in India’s metro connectivity, reinforcing the nation’s commitment to advancing modern and efficient urban transportation systems.
