Kolkata's Under-River Metro Sees 2.4 Million Riders in 2 Months

21 May 2024 CW Team

Kolkata?s East-West Metro corridor, featuring India?s first underwater metro tunnel, has successfully transported 2.4 million passengers within its first two months of operation. This 4.8 km stretch from Howrah Maidan to Esplanade, a significant engineering feat, passes under the Hooghly River and houses the country?s deepest metro station at Howrah, situated 32 metres below ground.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated this groundbreaking segment, which cost around ?49.60 billion to construct. The East-West corridor, when complete, will span 16.6 km, with 10.8 km of it underground. The project faced multiple delays due to incidents such as the aquifer burst at Bowbazar in 2019 and subsequent water leakage issues in 2022.

The metro line currently runs 130 services daily, providing a comfortable, air-conditioned commute between Howrah Maidan and Esplanade. This development promises to decongest Kolkata?s roads and enhance urban mobility.

In addition to this segment, the Metro Railway has also inaugurated parts of the Joka-Esplanade and New Garia-Airport lines, further expanding the city's metro network. The Joka-Taratala section, operational since 2022, and the new Kavi Subhash-Hemanta Mukhopadhyay stretch, underscore the city's growing transit infrastructure, set to offer seamless connectivity and alleviate traffic congestion.

Kolkata?s pioneering underwater metro is a testament to India?s engineering capabilities and sets a benchmark for future urban transport projects across the country.

Infrastructure Urban

06 Apr 2026

CFI Appoints New National Council for FY27 and FY28

The Construction Federation of India (CFI) has announced its newly elected National Council and office bearers for a two-year term covering FY27 and FY28. M. V. Satish, Advisor to CMD and Lead Ambassador for Middle East, L&T, has been elected President; Priti Patel, Chief Strategy & Growth Officer, Tata Projects, has been appointed Vice President; and Ajit Bhate, Managing Director, Precast India Infrastructures, has taken charge as Treasurer.The newly formed National Council brings together senior leaders from major EPC and infrastructure companies, reflecting CFI’s continued focus o..

India REIT Market Gains Momentum with Strong Returns

India’s Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) market is witnessing strong growth, emerging as a competitive investment avenue both domestically and across Asia. According to a recent ANAROCK report released at EXCELERATE 2026 by NAREDCO Maharashtra NextGen, the sector is evolving into a mature asset class driven by solid fundamentals, regulatory backing and rising investor confidence.The introduction of Small and Medium REITs (SM REITs) in 2025 has further widened access through fractional ownership, unlocking a potential monetisation opportunity of Rs 670–710 billion. Indian REITs have deli..

Domicil Debuts In Tricity With Luxe 9 Showcase

Domicil Germany, a luxury home furnishing brand from the House of HTL International, has made its Tricity debut with an exclusive showcase at Luxe 9, marking its first retail presence in the region.The invite-only event brought together architects, interior designers, real estate developers and high-net-worth individuals, reflecting rising demand for globally inspired, design-led living spaces.Centred on the theme ‘Celebrate Living with Timeless German Design’, the showcase highlighted Domicil’s focus on combining craftsmanship, functionality and refined aesthetics. Attendees experienced..