No Comments
Over a century after the visionary proposal of an underwater railway connecting Kolkata and Howrah, the dream of British engineer Sir Harley Dalrymple-Hay has finally come to fruition. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate Kolkata Metro’s Green Line, including the groundbreaking 4.8km Howrah Maidan-Esplanade stretch, on Wednesday.
Also Read: DMK leader A Raja sparked controversy as he said that India is not a nation..
India’s First Under-River Transportation Tunnel in Kolkata
The Green Line’s Howrah Maidan-Esplanade stretch, to be inaugurated by PM Modi, marks a historic moment as India’s first under-river transportation tunnel. The Birbhum-born engineer’s dream, conceptualized in 1921, will be acknowledged in a presentation before the Prime Minister.
#WATCH | India’s first underwater metro rail service in Kolkata set to be inaugurated by PM Modi on 6th March pic.twitter.com/ib5938Vn8x
— ANI (@ANI) March 5, 2024
Feat and Challenges
The under-river tunnel, positioned 13 meters beneath the riverbed and a remarkable 37 meters (over 120 feet) below the ground surface, posed significant engineering challenges. S Paramasivan, Managing Director of Afcons, the construction firm responsible for the under-river section, revealed, “There was a chance of running into things like lost anchors or ship wreckage. To avoid surprises, we did four boreholes in the river to study the soil. Fortunately, there were no surprises.”
Green Line
The Green Line, spanning 9.2km, connects Sector V in east Kolkata to Sealdah railway station. The project is a part of the Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation’s ambitious Rs 10,000-crore initiative.
As the Kolkata Metro’s Green Line opens its doors to the public, it not only signifies a major milestone in the city’s transportation history but also brings to life the century-old dream of an underwater railway connecting Kolkata and Howrah. The inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi stands as a testament to the engineering prowess that has overcome challenges to make this vision a reality.
OTT India updates you with the latest news, Country’s no.1 digital news platform OTT India, Keeps you updated with national, and international news from all around the world. For more such updates, download the OTT India app on your Android and IOS device.
