India’s first underwater metro was inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi on Wednesday. Kolkata Metro Howrah Garden-Esplanade Tunnel is the first transport tunnel to be built under a river in India. Howrah Metro station is the deepest metro station in India. This metro will connect Howrah and Kolkata. The underwater metro tunnel will run 32 meters below the Hooghly river bed.
The metro railway services flagged off by the Prime Minister include operations from the Kavi Subhash Metro, Majerhat Metro, Kochi Metro, Agra Metro, Meerut-RRTS section, Pune Metro, and Esplanade section of the Kolkata Metro.
It will take six minutes to go from Howrah Maidan to Esplanade. Howrah Metro station is the deepest metro station in India. Each coach will have high class facilities. Here are some of the special features of the newly inaugurated.
Special features of Underwater Metro Tunnel:
- The metro train will cover the distance of 520 meters under the Hooghly River in just 45 seconds.
- This metro has an automatic train operation system, that is, as soon as the motorman presses the button, the train will automatically move to the next station.
- The train will be able to reach a maximum speed of 80 km per hour.
- For the safety of passengers, the train will also be equipped with improved grab handles and handle loops in coaches (rakes) as well as anti-skid floors and fire extinguishers.
- In case of emergency, passengers will also be able to communicate with the motorman through the Talk to Driver unit.
- There will also be CCTV cameras to monitor each coach. Each coach will have high class facilities.
- It will take six minutes to go from Howrah Maidan to Esplanade.
- Of the total route of 16 km, 10.8 km is underground. This also includes the lower part of the river.
- The underwater metro will pass 13 meters below the foothills below the Hooghly, a tributary of the Ganga.
- Both the tunnels have been built parallel. 10 lakh passengers will travel in this metro by the year 2035.