A laborer works at the 'Chennai Metro Rail project' construction site in Chennai on Jan 31, 2024. (PHOTO / AFP)

NEW DELHI — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday inaugurated the country's first underwater metro section in the eastern city of Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal.

Following the inauguration, Modi took a metro ride on the Esplanade-Howrah Maidan metro route and interacted with school children on his metro journey.

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According to officials, the Howrah Maidan-Esplanade section has the deepest metro station in India, located 30 meters below ground level. This corridor connects crucial hubs like the IT hub Salt Lake Sector V, thereby promising unparalleled convenience for commuters.

The 4.8-km stretch between the Howrah Maidan and Esplanade is a vital segment of the East-West Metro corridor.