The construction of India's first underwater tunnel beneath the Hooghly River in Kolkata, which would provide metro connectivity between Howrah and Kolkata, is now underway and is expected to be completed by 2023.
The river bed will cover 520 meters of the 16.6-kilometer east-west section. Kolkata and Howrah will be connected by a tunnel corridor that is 33 meters below the riverbed, reports the Hindustan Times.
Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation (KMRCL) is building the Kolkata East-West Metro line, which is an underwater tunnel that will run beneath the Hooghly River.
In an interview with ANI, Mithun Ghosh, the Site Supervisor, discussed the project's facilities and safety measures, saying that there will be walkways in the tunnels for passenger escape in the event of an emergency.
"Important Passage work has also been done keeping in mind that if a technical problem arises inside the water tunnel area, passengers can be taken out through the special passage," said Mithun.
He also stated that over 80 per cent of the work on the East-West Howrah Metro station has been finished, with a full service planned to begin in 2023.
"The station is being built under the Hooghly river at a depth of 33 meters. 80 per cent of work has been completed while 20 per cent is yet to be finished. It will start functioning by 2023," Ghosh added.
