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 Energy

28 Aug 2025

MSRDC to Power Samruddhi Expressway with Renewable Energy

The Hindu Hrudaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg (HHBTMSM), popularly known as the Samruddhi Expressway, is set to become more than a high-speed corridor between Mumbai and Nagpur. Soon, it will also double as a renewable energy hub.The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has launched plans to install hybrid power systems—solar panels paired with wind turbines—along the 701-km stretch. A special purpose vehicle, Mahasamruddhi Renewable Energy Limited, has been incorporated to implement the project.The initiative targets 150–200 MW of solar powe..

Jakson Engineers to Set up Rs 80 Bn Solar Manufacturing Hub in Madhya Pradesh

Jakson Engineers, part of the Jakson Group, has announced an investment of over Rs 8,000 crore to establish a 6 GW integrated solar module, cell and wafer plant at Maksi Phase II, Madhya Pradesh. This marks the largest solar manufacturing investment in the state to date.The project will be developed in two phases across 110 acres recently allotted to the company. In Phase I, Jakson will commission 3 GW of solar modules and 3 GW of solar cells with an investment of Rs 20 billion. Phase II will add a 6 GW solar wafer unit along with an additional 3 GW each of modules and cells, involving an inve..

Adani Green Energy Upgraded To AA ‘Stable’ By CareEdge

Adani Green Energy (AGEL), India’s largest renewable energy developer, has received a credit rating upgrade from AA- to AA with a ‘Stable’ outlook by CareEdge Ratings.The agency cited AGEL’s market leadership, execution capabilities, and strong operational and financial profile as key drivers of the upgrade.As of June 30, 2025, AGEL had an operational portfolio of 15.8 GWAC, comprising 70 per cent solar, 13 per cent wind, and 17 per cent hybrid assets. The company is also developing another 15.1 GWAC over the next four to five years, including large-scale projects in Khavda, Gujarat, w..