Kolkata will witness a historic moment on 22 August when Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates three new metro stretches, including the country’s first underwater metro. Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar has called it a “historic gift” for West Bengal ahead of Durga Puja.
The main highlight will be the opening of the Sealdah–Esplanade stretch of the Green Line. With this link, the Howrah Maidan–Salt Lake Sector 5 route will become fully operational. The stretch passes under the Hooghly River, making it India’s first underwater metro route. It will connect Howrah and Sealdah railway stations and provide a faster commute to the city’s IT hub in Sector 5.
The event will take place at Jessore Road metro station in north Kolkata. Alongside the Green Line link, the Prime Minister will also inaugurate the Hemanta Mukhopadhyay (Ruby Crossing)–Beleghata stretch of the Orange Line and the Noapara–Jai Hind (airport) extension of the Yellow Line. The Yellow Line extension will give Kolkata its first direct metro link to the airport and will connect with the Blue Line at Noapara, easing travel for air passengers and residents of the northern suburbs. The Orange Line extension will improve connectivity for people living in the eastern and southern parts of the city.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said that projects worth ₹83,765 crore are currently in progress in West Bengal, with a record ₹13,955 crore allocated in this year’s budget. He also noted that 101 railway stations in the state are being redeveloped, while nine Vande Bharat trains and two Amrit Bharat trains are already in service.
A new subway at Howrah metro station will also be inaugurated during the event. The underwater metro stretch, delayed earlier due to subsidence in Bowbazar, is now set to open and is expected to greatly improve travel speed and connectivity across Kolkata.
