About the Tunnel
- The tunnels are being dug at a depth of 30 metres below the earth’s surface and 13 metres below the riverbed.
- The twin tunnels, about 520 metres long, are crucial to the much-awaited ₹ 8,900 core East West Metro project that will connect Salt Lake Sector V in the eastern part of Kolkata to the Howrah Maidan across the river.
- The diameter of the two tunnels running across the river is 5.5 metres and the distance between the two tunnels will vary at different places.
Concern over heritage site
- Three heritage buildings in Kolkata and the existing rules, construction and mining operations are prohibited within 100 meters of protected monuments.
- over the concern of Archaeological Survey of India, an expert committee from the Indian Institute of Technology found no adverse affect on the protected monuments.
Source : The Hindu
GS III : Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc