India’s first metro underwater section to test run on April 9

The Kolkata Metro is set to make history with the test run of India’s first-ever underwater sections on April 9th. This is a significant milestone in the development of the Kolkata East-West Metro Project’s Phase I, which aims to improve transportation in the city. India’s first metro underwater section to test run on April 9.

Authorities have decided to begin operations without waiting for the completion of the much-delayed 2.5-kilometre Sealdah-Esplanade section. The two six-coach metro train will trial run on 4.8 kilometer stretch between Esplanade and Howrah Maidan. With this, another feather will be added to the crown of Kolkata Metro.

The first metro railway in the country was also started in Kolkata in 1984 and then later in Delhi in 2002. The section between Sector V and Sealdah has already been operational but the section between Sealdah and Esplanade has been delayed delayed due to three major subsidences incidents since August 2019, TOI has reported.

The daily citing the metro officials has said that the trail run which will be held tomorrow between the Salt Lake and Howrah will pass successfully through the Sealdah and Esplanade tunnel. The report further stated that track laying between Sealdah and Esplanade is incomplete, however, for now gaps have been bridged by laying temporary tracks for transportation of the two trial trains.

Official told TOI that till the Sealdah station, the trains will run normally but from Sealdah to Esplanade, they will be pushed by battery powered loco as the tunnel, then again from Esplanade to Howrah they will function normally. The battery powered loco will be used as it still doesn’t have electrified third rails. As per the report, the date of commencement of commercial service will depend on the success of the trials.

Also Read: RR vs DD: Jos Buttler, Mitchell Marsh not available, changes in playing XI

Also Read: Covid cases sudden surge in India: centre alert to state governments

Earlier, KMRC had said that India’s first underwater metro service, the East-West Metro Corridor project is expected to be completed by December 2023. Shailesh Kumar, General Manager Civil KMRC had told ANI, “The ongoing underwater tunnel project is likely to be completed by December 2023. Some rehabilitation works are in process and other issues are delaying the completion of the underwater metro project.