Prime Minister inaugurated a metro train service between Howrah Maidan and Esplanade in Kolkata, marking the opening of India’s first under-river tunnel.
About India’s First Under-River Metro Tunnel:
- The tunnel is an integral part of Kolkata Metro’s East-West Corridor.
- It passes 13 meters below the Hooghly Riverbed and 37 meters below ground level in Kolkata’s northeast.
- It forms part of the 4.8 km underground section from Howrah Maidan to Esplanade.
- This is the second section of the East-West Metro corridor, constructed at a cost of Rs 4,965 crore.
- It features the deepest metro station in India, Howrah Maidan station, located 32 meters below ground level.
- The metro journey under the Hooghly River covers a 520-meter stretch in just 45 seconds.
About River Hooghly:
- The Hooghly River, also known as Bhagirathi-Hooghly and Kati-Ganga in religious texts, is distributary of the Ganges.
- It starts in Murshidabad and flows to the Bay of Bengal, passing through industrial areas of West Bengal.
- It is maintained by the Farakka Feeder Canal, ensuring flow during dry seasons and receives water from rivers like Haldi, Ajay, Damodar, and Rupnarayan.
- Cities such as Jiaganj, Azimganj, Murshidabad, and Baharampur are located along the river.
- Landmarks: Cantilever bridge connecting Haora and Kolkata and the Bally Bridge between Bally and Baranagar.
Ref:Source
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