Kolkata and Howrah carry a rich and profound legacy of nothing less than a few thousands of years. As correctly depicted with the discovery and archaeological study of Chandraketugarh, which is 35 kilometres away towards the north of Kolkata, provide evidence that the region in which the city stands today, has been inhabited since the 3rd century BC and this region was even known to the ancient Greeks and Romans!

The tale of these two ancient cities have merged long time back and the legacy of them growing together gets richer with the inclusion of the East-West Metro which will have the first under-water river tunnel in India and South Asia. No wonder it was Kolkata which gave the first metro railway of India too!

Facilities to commute fast and commute comfortably are the essence of the growth of all the largest of the cities across the globe. And as part of the plan of the expansion of the dimensions of these two old cities, the master plan of this East-West corridor was identified way back in 1971!

The state-of-the-art 16.6 km long East-West Metro, connecting Howrah with Salt Lake Sector V, will have a 10.8 km long underground corridor from Howrah to Subhas Sarobar in the eastern part of Kolkata, while the rest 5.8 km to Sector V will be an elevated corridor. A 520 meters stretch of the tracks will go through a tunnel under the Hooghly river. The roof of the tunnel would be about 30 metres from the ground level. The tunnel will be completed by 2018.

The twelve stations in this phase will be – Howrah Maidan, Howrah Station, Mahakaran, Esplanade, Sealdah, Phoolbagan, Salt Lake Stadium, Bengal Chemical & Pharmaceuticals, City Center 1, Central Park, Karunamoyee, Salt Lake Sector V.

The East-West Metro corridor will truly redefine the age-old marriage of these two cities making the prospects of their growth multiple in the near future. There is no surprise that the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), London, has selected this East-West Metro corridor as one among 200 global projects, which have a significant impact in making people’s lives better. The growth of the furthest of the places connected to this metro route is already a fact appreciating the value of all old, new, under construction and even proposed properties, both residential and commercial.

The principal commercial, cultural, and educational centre of East India is thus going to contribute big time in the change in life and lifestyle of the people of the region and also of India sooner if not later. The legacy of the richness of this land is blessed to continue for the millennia to come.