India’s First Underwater Metro Tunnel in Kolkata
![India’s First Underwater Metro Tunnel in Kolkata mind map
Recent News:
Inauguration:
By: Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Date: Not specified in provided information
When:
Expected completion: 2023
Why:
Decongest traffic
Transform lives near Hooghly river
What
Length of corridor: 16.6 km
Underwater stretch: 520 meters
Depth below riverbed: 33 meters
Depth below surface: 13 meters
Construction cost: Rs 8,600 crore
Features:
1.4m-wide concrete rings
Hydrophilic gaskets to prevent water ingress
Stations:
- Esplanade
- Mahakaran
- Howrah
- Howrah Maidan
Travel time reduction:
Sector V to Howrah
Howrah to Sealdah: 40 minutes (from 1.5 hours)
Where:
Under Hooghly river
Connecting:
Howrah and Kolkata
IT hub of Salt Lake Sector V to Howrah Maidan
Who:
Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation (KMRC)
Site Supervisor: Mithun Ghosh
How:
Twin tunnel over 500 meters
Tunnel boring:
Timeline:
First tunnel: May end or first week of June 2017
Second tunnel: July end 2017
Restrictions: Only one tunnel boring machine operational at a time
Significance:
First of its kind in India
Expected to be at par with Eurostar (London to Paris)
Helps reduce travel time
Aids in traffic decongestion
Challenges:
Technical challenges:
Underwater construction complexities
Evacuation passages for emergencies
Way Forward:
Not specified in provided information](https://www.iasexpress.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Indias-First-Underwater-Metro-Tunnel-in-Kolkata-1024x433.jpeg)
The Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation is set to complete India’s first underwater metro tunnel, connecting the East and West metro corridors under the Hooghly river between Howrah and Kolkata. This 520-meter stretch, part of a 16.6 km east-west corridor, is designed to significantly reduce travel time and decongest traffic in the area. The project, costing Rs 8,600 crore, includes safety features like walkways for emergency evacuation and is built 33 meters below the riverbed. The underwater tunnel will connect the IT hub of Salt Lake Sector V to Howrah Maidan, crossing the river. With stations at Esplanade, Mahakaran, Howrah, and Howrah Maidan, the metro aims to transform transportation in Kolkata, making it akin to international standards similar to the Eurostar connection between London and Paris.
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