In a historic moment for India's rapid transit system, a Metro rake ran under a river for the first time in the country in Kolkata. The trail run was conducted from Howrah to Esplanade in Kolkata as the metro made its journey under the Hoogly river.
P Uday Kumar Reddy, general manager, Kolkata Metro, described the run as a historic moment for the city of Kolkata.
"It is the first time that a train has moved below the Hoogly river. It is also the deepest station at 33 metres of depth -- a first in India. This is historic moment for the city of kolkata. It will take seven months to complete the trails and after that we will be able to start regular services," Reddy said.
It is expected that commercial services on the Howrah-Esplanade stretch will begin this year. The metro is expected to cover a 520-meter stretch under the Hooghly river in 45 seconds. This tunnel under the river is 32 meters below the river bed.
The stretch is part of the East-West Metro corridor connecting Howrah Maidan and Sector V in Salt Lake, the IT hub of Kolkata. The project will link the Esplanade station of the Kolkata Metro's North-South line with Indian railway stations in Howrah and Sealdah.
An official called it a "revolutionary step" in providing a modern transport system to the people of Kolkata and its suburbs, PTI reported.
"After many hurdles, we have succeeded to run rakes beneath the Hooghly river, a revolutionary step in the transport system of Kolkata. This is indeed a special new year gift from Indian Railways for the people of Bengal," Metro Rail chief public relations officer Kausik Mitra told TOI.
The development is another milestone for Kolkata Metro as it was also the country's first metro railway that started in Kolkata in 1984. Delhi began offering metro services in 2002.