Kolkata: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated and also took a ride on the Esplanade-Howrah Maidan metro route — the first underwater metro transportation tunnel under any major river in the country.
Howrah metro station is the deepest metro station in India. Also, the Majerhat Metro Station, on the Taratala – Majerhat metro section inaugurated today, is a unique elevated metro station across railway lines, platforms and canal.
Modi also interacted with those who worked on this underwater metro tunnel project and schoolchildren on his metro journey. “The metro journey was made memorable thanks to the company of these youngsters and those who worked on this project. We also travelled through the tunnel under the Hooghly river,” he posted on X.
Governor of West Bengal C V Ananda Bose was present on the occasion among others.
The metro routes inaugurated today are expected to ensure ease of urban mobility, help decongest road traffic and provide seamless, easy and comfortable connectivity. These routes are Kolkata Metro’s Howrah Maidan – Esplanade Metro section, Kavi Subhash – Hemanta Mukhopadhyay Metro section, Taratala – Majerhat Metro section (part of Joka- Esplanade line).
Modi flagged off train services on these sections. The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for extending the Pune Metro Rail project Phase 1 between Pimpri Chinchwad Metro-Nigdi, and flagged off the Pune Metro from Ruby Hall Clinic to Ramwadi stretch; Kochi Metro Rail Phase I Extension project (Phase IB) from SN Junction Metro station to Tripunithura Metro station; Agra Metro’s stretch from Taj East Gate to Mankameshwar which is expected to enhance connectivity to historical tourist places; and Duhai-Modinagar (North) section of Delhi-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) Corridor which is expected to boost economic activity in the National Capital Region of Dehi.
– global bihari bureau