India's Atmanirbhar underwater metro in Kolkata to launch in December

23 May 2023 CW Team

India's ambitious 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' project, the underwater metro in Kolkata, is set to commence operations for commuters by the end of 2023. The project involves the construction of a tunnel under the river Hooghly, a remarkable engineering feat accomplished by Indian engineers. The tunnel, with an internal diameter of 5.55 meters and external diameter of 6.1 meters, has been built using a tunnel-boring machine (TBM). It runs 32 meters below water level, making it an engineering marvel. The underwater railway system will connect Howrah Maidan station to Mahakaran metro station, offering passengers a unique experience of traveling beneath the river.

Sanjay Banerjee, the General Manager Civil of Kolkata Metro Rail Cooperation Limited, highlighted the challenges faced during the project, particularly the careful planning required due to the densely populated areas of Kolkata and the presence of existing buildings. Despite these challenges, the project has made significant progress, with a section of the underground route already operational from Phoolbagan to Sealdah.

The project emphasises the indigenisation of technology, with Indian companies leading the way and Indian engineers playing a pivotal role. The construction of the underwater metro serves as a prime example of the 'Atmanirbhar' initiative, showcasing the capabilities and expertise of Indian engineers. The underwater tunnel spans a length of 520 metres, reaching a depth of 16 metres below the riverbed at its deepest point. The construction of the tunnel, which connects Howrah station complex to Armenian Ghat, was completed in a record time of 66 days. This underwater rail system marks a significant milestone as the first subaqueous tunnel beneath a major river in India.

The authorities aim to open the underwater metro for commercial use by December 2023, providing the people of Kolkata with an advanced and efficient mode of transportation and contributing to the city's urban development.

Resources

11 May 2026

Sunday Hotels Appoints Firoz Khan as BD Head

Sunday Hotels has appointed Firoz Khan as Director and Channel Head – Business Development, as the hospitality brand strengthens its leadership team to support expansion and partnership-led growth across India.In his new role, Khan will lead business development and channel strategy, focusing on market expansion, partner ecosystem development and scalable growth across the brand’s portfolio.Khan brings over 16 years of experience across real estate advisory, retail expansion and business strategy. Prior to joining Sunday Hotels, he served as Vice President and Head – North India Business..

Hindustan Zinc Joins Dow Jones ESG Index

Hindustan Zinc has been included in the Dow Jones Best-in-Class Index 2026 for Emerging Markets following the latest index rebalance by S&P Dow Jones Indices. The inclusion marks the company’s first entry into the global ESG benchmark index.Formerly known as the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, the benchmark tracks companies demonstrating strong environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance across global markets. Hindustan Zinc is among only 25 Indian companies included in the emerging markets index and one of only two companies from India’s metals and mining sector.The company..

Carlton London Enters Furniture Market with EBG Group

Carlton London has entered India’s furniture market through a partnership with EBG Group, launching Carlton Luxury Furniture with a focus on sustainable and long-life home interiors. The venture plans to open 600 franchise-led showrooms across 300 cities over the next five years through a partner-driven expansion model. The company expects the rollout to generate investments of Rs 18-20 billion from franchise stakeholders and create over 12,000 jobs across the country. The brand said the initiative will focus on sustainability-led furniture manufacturing, targeting a reduction of around 16..