Hundreds of enthusiastic commuters thronged Kolkata Metro stations on Friday, eager to be part of a historic day - the inauguration of the country's first underwater metro service.
The atmosphere was electric as twin trains simultaneously departed from Howrah Maidan and Esplanade stations at 7 am, marking the official commencement of commercial services on the East-West metro corridor.
Cheers and claps erupted as the trains embarked on their journeys, with a palpable sense of excitement gripping the passengers. Some commuters at Howrah Maidan chanted slogans in celebration, while authorities at Esplanade station greeted riders with rose stems.
This landmark achievement follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi's inauguration of the Howrah Maidan-Esplanade section on March 6th.
The 520-meter under-river tunnel, a marvel of engineering, transcends the Hooghly River, creating a vital link between Kolkata and Howrah.
Passengers on the inaugural rides expressed their elation.
Arati Bose, 56, from Howrah district, described the moment as "exciting," highlighting the significance of linking Kolkata and Howrah through tunnels beneath the river.
Sharmistha Khamri, 52, arrived at the station early with her husband, thrilled at the prospect of experiencing the inaugural underwater metro ride, comparing the atmosphere to a festive celebration.
Sudham Giri, 26, and his friends expressed their delight at witnessing the completion of the long-awaited project, which had been a topic of discussion since their school days.
College student Srimanti Biswas's enthusiasm was evident as she kissed her ticket and hurriedly joined her friends for a group selfie after purchasing it.
However, some commuters like Manjushri Bhattacharya and her daughter, along with Raja Podder and his friends, missed the first train due to overcrowding and long queues at the ticket counter.
The excitement extended beyond Kolkata and Howrah, with people from suburban areas like Mecheda, Bandel, and Bongaon arriving at metro stations early to be part of the historic occasion.
Rabin Dey, 62, who traveled from Bongaon, described the ride from Esplanade to Howrah Maidan as a once-in-a-lifetime experience and a significant day in Kolkata's history.
Metro Railway spokesperson, Kaushik Mitra, confirmed the overwhelming response, with some commuters arriving as early as 2.30 am to be part of this momentous event.
The Howrah Maidan-Esplanade section boasts the deepest metro station in India - the Howrah Metro station.
This groundbreaking addition to Kolkata's transportation network is estimated to cost Rs 4,965 crore and represents the first transportation tunnel under a major river in the country.
The East-West corridor project began in 2009, with tunneling under the Hooghly river commencing in 2017.
The total length of the corridor is 16.6 km, of which 10.8 km runs underground, including the under-river tunnel.
The project encountered delays due to unforeseen challenges, including an aquifer burst and subsequent ground subsidence in 2019.
Despite these hurdles, Kolkata has successfully achieved a feat of engineering marvel, ushering in a new era of seamless travel and connectivity for the city.
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