Amongst many things happened in my life, good or bad, this day, today, will bring me one of the most memorable incident for which I am waiting in speechless condition from some last few days. Today, for the first time in the Indian History, the metro rail will ply below any river in the country and that to in my beloved city, Howrah. I am very much excited and made a plan to board the first train which will connect the twin city Howrah and Kolkata by rail underground crossing the river. The construction work when was going for many years then I frequently observing their work from distance and had the dream to board on the very first day of train running and that dream now seems to be fulfilled today.

The station is not far away from my residence. As the day is advancing I am becoming nervous, tensed, excited and cannot control myself, so, today definitely one of the most memorable day coming in my life.

Though I was knowing that I won't be allowed to go inside the station before 15th March 2024, the day when the train will start running for a short patch form Howrah Maidan to Esplanade even out of curiosity went there on 12th to take a chance to enter but as expected and as should be, I was stopped by the security men and could not go inside but tried to take a big look from outside and felt very happy.

Local scenario at 3-30 am on 15th 

I got up very early today. I am in two minds whether to go out in this late night hour or to wait for sometime for the morning light to come but as excitement mountings so I set out immediately at 3-30 am because I wanted to take chance for first train which will be on the wheel at 7am.

The station named Howrah Maidan. I reached there. Gate was closed. Like me some were also came before me and waiting to board the first train there.

Atmosphere in the Spring morning is very cool, calm and quiet. Light breeze is blowing. Businessman in small matador coming from wholesale market taking fish and vegetables for their local bazaars and the material handling labours are locked at different spot for unloading the commodities. Totos and autos are plying, taking mainly business personnel in this odd hour. I am watching this for the first time in my life.

People's Excitement

People here all are with mixed sensation. Those who are waiting like me, excited and those who cannot make today their trip also taking a pause before the station, enquiring about the train timing, train destination and expressing their joy with glittering eyes. Some people who are feeling afraid of passing below river enquiring from us about the safety of under water journey and after getting assurance also they remain shaky and avoiding the trip. Toto drivers, Rickshaw pullers and other vendors who for their livelihood cannot make immediate journey today also making a peeping glance.

I am here watching all these things. I am gazing all around the station. Thinking of those shaky people that how ignorant they are in today's time when many countries like UK, USA, France, China, Egypt already experienced about the underwater journey and moreover United Arab Emirates recently in 2018, expressed their wish to run both passenger carrier and goods train below the sea connecting Dubai with Mumbai then why our innocent and simple minded Howrah people cannot acquire the minimum courage for this only 520 metres underwater journey? This shows that how backward we are psychologically but even though seeing many enthusiasts started thronging the street brought me unexpected joy in this early morning.

This area is known to me for last fifty more years and many things are surfacing in my flashback. Here, where I am just now standing, was having narrow roads then, the Buckland Bridge over the bustling railway lines was so small that one had to take much much time to reach Howrah Station because of traffic snarl and congestion and also the area where I am now was full of shanties but due to the wide concrete Bankim Bridge, congestion does not occur now and within ten to fifteen minutes one can reach Howrah Station from here. Of course, this bridge has no connection with the construction of today's metro rail but the looks of bridge and its approach road added a beauty alongwith the massive development work done by all authorities concerned here. One good thing that made me happy that the authorities not only concentrated for their railway work but also Roads have been widened, the area decorated by the busts of legendary personalities, foot paths have been cemented with the artistic bricks and the traffic island guarded with steel grills and well trimmed shrubs. The colourful flowers inside the fences drawing attention of the beauty which have been meticulously wovened with aesthetic sense.

The white colour long bearded saint Rishi Aurobindo sitting at a high altar in the midst of the road with proper fencing around giving a soothing look and bringing a patriotic sense amongst the commuter and opposite to it, just beside the station, is another towering personality placed on a glazed stand. The sculpture of deep meditative Swami Vivekananda draws everybody's attention and imbibing religious fervour to all who are present in this historic hour.

I still now waiting here and keeping eyes at the gate to open but as I came very early, so, I have to wait for some more time also. Slowly, one after another passenger coming. Now the area getting crowded. Similarly, I believe, the other gates also may be having crowds just like here but as the gates are at very distance, so, I cannot see those people but feeling about. Looking the watch frequently. Listening to the discussion of others also. Excitement mounting tremendously.

Seen that some people are discussing about the journey, about the route, about the train, about the transport system, about the relief one will get because of this rail movement as it has been told by railway that once the full stretch is completed then one can reach to Sector V from here in 1 and half hour while by road it may take much more than this in busy hour. Not only the time but also physical exhaustion will be minimised to a great extent. I am hearing all these discussion and heard that some senior people of my age group were narrating their juniors the pain they had to take to attend office at Dalhousie and Esplanade for the stretched transporting system then. That time, in this area Private buses were plying through very narrow crowded roads with snarling pace. Passengers those blessed to move inside the bus were squeezed and half the passengers were hanging outside. I also reminiscing the sweet but painful memories of those days when travelling by bus.

I am living here for more than fifty years and in flashback could see the Ladies sitting inside helping the unknown friend who is hanging at the gate either by holding his hand or taking his small office bag even the male passengers were also seen taking risk of their lives helped the lady copassenger to stand on the bus foot board without putting an ink on her dignity. Roads then were very narrow. Buses were forced to move in slow speed negotiating the crowds and found two conductors donning at two gates of the bus were performing their duties in a gentle and cool manner. Many small, insignificant but full of human value incidents are surfacing above. I am in excitement, just waiting for the trip under River Hooghly and looking at the gate opening.

Thought without wasting any time idle let me stroll around it to take the vibe of today's sentiment of general public and the moment I put my step forward then got stuck up with the shining beauty of 'Platina Shopping Mall'.

Just opposite to the station gate is the tall white colour mall. Reflecting sunrays from the glazed wall forced me to think of the yester years when Bangabasi Cinema Hall was there. The dome shaped cinema hall's brick wall was always pasted with colourful movie posters and the front was occupied by the various vendors to beggars but now the courtyard of the posh mall is completely free from those scenarios and guarded by the security staff always.

I put my feet on road and started crawling. Moved behind. Went up to the gate of Sarat Sadan, a cultural centre of Howrah city and taking the taste of morning beauty at a time when there is no noise of vehicle, no call attention shouting of hawkers and no traffic jam caused due to indisciplined driving of Toto, Auto and Motorcycle.

Though all these things I saw early but as the station gate is still closed and would take some more time to open, so, I started stepping out to take the beauty taste of newly designed Maidan in this early hour.

On a vast sprawling green Sarat Sadan complex is blessed with many varieties of tall and small flowering trees which are so beautifully and scientifically trimmed that the building now glittering under the Golden Sun getting an additional beauty in this twinkling hour of spring morning. I am amazed to see the changes of the dirty, nasty city and also becoming excited when see pedllars entering the gate for their morning work out about which I never saw before in my this locality. Saw some lady volley ball players with their playing kit entering the gate which gave me the idea that they might be going to their practising club through the greens, which is just beside this Sadan. I was also thinking to enter, specially attracting me the HMC Planetarium which is situated inside this complex but I controlled myself because any moment the station gate may open.

The planetarium in between Sarat Sadan Building and Station is another beauty added to old Howrah. Howrah Maidan is now looking like a jewel fitted with colourful living peacock replacing all the notion of 'Dusty Dirty Nasty City'.

There is nobody seen near Planetarium because here shows in three languages eg, Bengali, English and Hindi will be in the afternoon only. I stopped for a while and looking at the watch again. Instead of moving further I am now looking at some food sellers who are selling Puri Sabji in a temporary make shift stall but alert about the surrounding cleanliness. The used saal patta (saal leaf), banana leaf, disposable plates alongwith waste food material are kept in a bin which to be transported later. This consciousness about the environment is definitely a positive sign for Howrah Citizens who were so long infamous for spitting around and causing open nuisance by throwing pan masala packet, guthka packets and urinating indiscriminately. Suddenly my attention was diverted hearing a strong yell and I hurriedly started walking back with long stride.

From distance I see that juniors went inside running, middle aged people also trying to gain 'hare speed' while I from the entry point start moving in a gingerly pace because I need to take the taste of the beauty of artistic decoration, aesthetic architectural work, layout of public address system, LED guided navigating direction, facility provided for commuters and more interested about the public safety.

Instead of taking lift and escalator I preferred to take the glazed tile topped stair case to go below. Railway officials are with smiling face greeting the passengers. Beautiful looking ladies draped in colourful sarees and with angel smile gifting all a blossomed pink rose which in my long life never received before. I became very much charmed for this unexpected gesture. Became very very happy. Slowly moving forward. I found people can have the ticket either from the counter standing in queue or may get the ticket from self vending machine. I of course took it from the counter because not feeling comfortable with the vending machine.

Instead of hurry in boarding I started moving from one end to other, overwhelmed with the awesome interior work, dazzle lighting, colourful display at all entry and exit gate and most importantly that a moving screen provided in between train and platform to avoid any accident or untoward incident as the Calcutta people already witnessed many suicide or suicide attempt in city's running other metro.

Now, as the time is nearer for train departure, so, I again moved backward with the intention to be in the last coach because, if I sit in the very first coach then l may not get that charming taste that I am looking for. Train started with cloud bursting cheer from all passengers. I myself also joined in chorus and train leaping towards Howrah Station. In between Howrah Maidan and Howrah Station is the bustling railway lines which posed enough challenges to the engineers and workmen of Afcon Infrastructure during construction but overcoming all difficulties of excavating alluvial, clayey and lazy soft strata, constructed the tunnel below the busy railway lines without hampering any road rail traffic movement, thus made is possible today to carry the passengers to Howrah Station in just two minutes. When I reached Howrah then again started thinking of yesteryears' tidious hour long journey which now just covered in no time. Now, I am at Howrah Station. The new station is built within the complex of traditional Howrah Station but at a deep of 30 metres from ground level, which is incidentally the deepest metro station in the country. It is a real glory for me.that the dirty nasty Howrah is now in the Nation's Quiz List where in many competitive examination the question may come, which is the deepest metro rail station in the country. Thinking this, I am feeling proud. Train is at the station. Looking around the station. Do not find any tea seller nor any uniformed porter nor even finding any jostle of the passengers to get a seat in the train. It's a real amazing. Known Howrah Station giving me a completely different look. Again amazed. Train started. The desired moment is now coming. Train approaching towards river tunnel. From announcement came to know that train front already under water. I am thrilled. Co passengers are all also excited.

The blue lighting indicates that we have entered the under water tunnel. All curious eyes fixed outside to see the well lit tunnel. Feeling the paradise beauty. But just after 45 seconds everything disappeared. Train stopped at 'Mahakaran' station. Beauty of well designed 520 metre long, 5.5 metre width tunnel at a depth of 16 metre from river bed with decorative lighting giving me an artificial marine life taste whereas the sea water tunnel which United Arab Emirates planning will have special type transparent glass so that the passengers on their 1200 mile journey from Dubai to Mumbai can have real picture of marine beauty. Here today no water is seen. No real marine beauty seen but after successful implementation of UAE's plan we can expect another charm of travelling under water.

At the end of my just 10 minutes journey at Esplanade, which is after Mahakaran, I was temporarily lost about the marvel of the tunnel under river Hooghly and also started thinking of that Indian origin British Engineer Harley Dalrymple Hay how could he envisaged about the route and made the drawing for the under water tunnel coming in the way of the 10.6 km transporting line. He made the drawing after the recommendation of W E Crum appointed committee for a rail track underground from Bagmari, Calcutta to Salkia, Banaras Road, Howrah in 1921. The committee following a decision of Imperial Legislative Assembly in 1919 made the study of transport system and came to the conclusion that alternative transportation route would be necessary for the continuous growth of two giant city Howrah and Calcutta to manage the surging population because only Howrah Bridge would not be able to cater the need and other bridge over river might create many problems, so, they were suggesting for under water system and subsequently the the British Engineer made the scheme but as the solid soil layer under river available at a very deep, so, the cost for construction would be very high than that made at London under river thus the project at Calcutta was dropped.

But this British Engineer was not disheartened because he agreed, on a request from Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation, for making a tunnel under this river to facilitate the energy selling company to take power cable to Howrah from Calcutta which he completed by 1931 and that tunnel is till today in existence. Incidentally that was also first underground river tunnel made in India and in that case also my city Howrah had pearl in crown.

After independence, Dr. B C Roy, Chief Minister of Bengal expressed his vision for underground transportion system in 1949 and his dream came to reality when on 24th October, 1984, for a stretch of 3.4 km path, Metro Train rolled out with passengers from Esplanade to Bhawanipur, the station Bhawanipur later renamed Netaji Bhavan and then after Metro spreading its wings and connecting the heart of the cosmopolitan city with the furthest location of Calcutta and now spreading further to take some suburbs under its ambit as we see in the world China, USA and other many countries making long spider network connected a very large portion of their country.

Till some months back Calcutta Metro was running only from Noapara to Kavi Subhash but of late by making a portion of East West Corridor operative from metro runs from Sealdah to Sector V and the city dwellers can commute in this rapid transit route and today by opening the another portion of same corridor the commuters like me can travel from Howrah Maidan to Esplanade but to take the joy of complete this Green Line travel we have to wait for some time till the connector between Esplanade to Sealdah is complete. In the city Calcutta, also other two projects from New Garia to DumDum and from Joka to Esplanade are progressing. Today those other two routes also begin their journey for a short distance.

The route from Howrah Maidan to Sector v has a total stretch of 16.6 km out of which underground rail will be of 10.8 km distance including 520 m tunnel below river. Already the wheel started rolling from Sealdah to Sector V covering a distance of 4.88 km for some time and now, with the opening of today's line a major portion of the proposed corridor has been completed but the work between Esplanade to Sealdah for a stretch of 2.45 km is delayed because of some unexpected incident occurred at Bowbazar area where once the Tunnel Boring Equipment struck the hidden aquifier and as a result the entire area was flooded and due to this, many century old residential building, commercial buildings collapsed like a pack of cards for loose soil and those subsidence made many people homeless. Again after reengineering and rehabilation of those people and taking suggestions from overseas knowledgeable consultants the Railway Authority with Afcon Infrastructures renewed their work but that again unfortunately got halt because many houses in those area found developed fatal cracks and the residents needed to evacuate to safe place. Due to the recurring problems the engineers and all technical team along with the local authority and Afcon administration, after solving technical and humanitarian problem, again resumed the work and till now no further untoward incident have been reported. The job is progressing uninterruptedly.

Though metro rail construction technology is nothing new and the technologist are well aware of the imminent problems to be faced even many time the unexpected situation put the technologists in dilemma. Similarly here at Howrah, the engineers countered the challenges of soil characters, Bankim Bridge foundation, to work under busy Railway Yard which were taken utmost care right from the design to execution by the railway authority and with hard work and dedication our technical personnel constructed the tunnel from Howrah Maidan to Howrah Station without causing any disruption to Rail Road transport system. Then the challenges came for construction of tunnel under river and the team completed the tunnel under river was just in 66 days without diversion of water flow or blocking the normal movent of any vessel which the railway authority claims to be a unique engineering. After completing the tunnel under water the group was moving forward in a very cautious way, overcoming challenges from the Foundation of Road Bridge at Brabourne Road, Alignment of very old buildings which the engineering team was negotiating very effectively but then after at Bowbazar the progress got a jolt. The repititive problem of flooding and crack developing in the building put some initial hindrance but overcoming those problem the work is now going on full swing and once this strip from Esplanade is completed then the entire length of 16.6 km can be covered only by one and half hour and the commuters will be relieved of their daily agony.

Reached Esplanade only in ten minutes. Today I started at 7 am and now the time is 7.10 am. Standing at Esplanade I am trying to understand the complexity of crowd management once when all three routes of Howrah Maidan - Sector V segment, Joka-Esplanade route alongwith Noapara- Kavi Subhash will be in operation. Huge crowds that what will be locked at a time due to the multiple trains arrival needs to be dispersed in such a way so that no untoward incident should occur. Already I have noticed at different station of Noapara route that when two trains coming together then at that time the passenger have to negotiate a big queue at station ticket checking gate then what would happen if when so many passengers of different Green, Pink & other metro lines come together at Esplanade? I tried to understand but as the network not yet been completed so, I could not assess it but seeing today's marvellous work from Howrah Maidan to Esplanade, I am confident that the designers must have definitely kept in mind the imminent challenges to be facing due to crowd gathering. Once again moved around the new station and old Esplanade and was mesmerised with the beauty of decoration. The station look, colour of the wall, photo frames hanging proves the aesthetic taste of the designer. With a great satisfaction I for return purchased ticket from automatic vending machine and entered the gate.

At the time of my this journey I was not that much excited about the scenic beauty but my look was for engineering only because of my technical background. Though I could not understand anything about the safety measure designed for any power failure, electrical breakdown, water leaking, telephone communication failure or in case of any fire occur under the river bed and was thinking how the rescue operation to be done if any disaster happend in

520 metres tunnel, how the people will come out of the coach safe and like so many questions are coming to my mind but have no doubt about the safety of this metro and confident of smooth movement of train.

Coming out of underground at about

10.30 am, I became a new man in my city when found some girls from nearing college are holding the hands of their boy friends entering those restaurant which sprung up during this time and some found are romancing in front of the shopping mall giving me an amorous look of my city. Some of them were also found moving towards Sarat Sadan to have a real life vibe. All these scenarios have started giving me feeling of a romance city like Paris and most probably pairs from Kolkata in future also may come to my city for soaking into the sweet sun by the side of River Hooghly here. The river bank now has number of spacious tile covered concrete benches where these lover can have their dating both in day time and in well lit night time also, moreover in the night one can have the religious feeling when they can see an organised Aarti by the dedicated people of Hindu Sanatani Group. I am feeling very proud of my city and comparing my dirty, nasty city with Paris from romance and with Banaras from religious angle. I feel really happy and started smiling to myself thinking where earlir people never could stand for a moment due to stinking smell and branded Dirty Nasty, now that city is turning to be a lovers' beauty.

Returned home with a very happy mind and renewed energy. At the age of 65 yrs. and due to the charm of today's journey I became interested to know the every detail of metro. I dipped into the history of Underground Metro and found that first Tube Rail was tested at London by carrying passengers from Paddington to Farrington on 10th January 1863 in England and started a new era in public transportation. Thenafter with time, the researchers and engineers with the support of governments and business houses went on continuous improvement of the rapid transit system and thus one after another improved version of metro could be designed. Every time the engineers taking notes of the shortfalls from the previous metro, corrected those defects and offered us the improved transit system and thus after with numerous modification, we today getting an ultra modern unit for our this new Green Line route from Howrah Maidan.

The first train that invented by Richard Trevithick was driven by gas. This gas operated wooden train though was successful in running but saw many passengers and on duty personnel getting sick of Respiratory problem along with Asthama which posed a great concern for the safe running. Amongst many problem, one major was noticed in the tunnel that the oxygen availability insufficient and smoke was not discharged effectively thus causing pollution. Then with the introduction of electricity in 1890 many such problem could be controlled. After London Underground's success others also became interested and thus another underground metro was inaugurated in Budapest on 2nd May, 1896, in memory of the arrival of Magyars. These Magyars came to Hungary 1000 years (millennium) ago and in memory of their arrival the emperor Franz Joseph dedicated this metro to its people in the name of Franz Joseph Underground Railway Company and in 2002 it got UNESCO's prestigious World Heritage recognition.

I am now more ingrossed with the study of metro history and found that not only European Country but United States and some Asian Countries also started making network for public transportation and in Asia Japan was the first to make it in 1927 at Tokyo and then at Osaka in 1933. Now, at present Japan made so much advancement in their metro system that their Toei Subway registered as one of the busiest metro in the world which carries about 8 million passengers per day.

Another Asian country, China also improved in many ways and they are the only country who has maximum number of 46 network in operation and the highest speed they could achieve so far is 431 km/ hr in the Shanghai Metro which is highest in the world while our this metro from Howrah Maidan is running with 80 km/ hr only, even though I feel very happy with this rail connection.

I am further amazed to see that deepest metro station in the world is Pyongyong at a depth of 200 metre but not at all perturbed for our Howrah which is only at 30m from ground. Though the route of North Korea's this metro is for military transportation only even it is an amazing feat achieved in a water locked country.

I then glueing to the pages and trying to find the deepest metro station through which regular passengers moving, found some years back, Arsenala Station at Kiev, Ukraine, at a feet of 107m was the deepest but now Homgyancun Station at China at a depth of 116m deep became the deepest station for general mass.

As I am swimming through, becoming speechless, found China covered a length of 831 km with 508 station in a single route that caries hundreds and thousands of commuter daily in their Beijing Subway route then temporarily feeling inferior but immediately as an Indian and as a Howrah man boasting for the train under water which put us in the same list with UK, USA, France, Japan, China, Egypt who all made tunnel either in river bed or below the sea bed.

USA's tunnel under Hudson, China's under river Hunangpu, Egypt's under Nile and Japan's under sea bed of Tsugaru and ours below river Hooghly are all have the feat of engineering marvel and human excellence.

Tunnel connecting two islands Hokkaido and Honshu of Japan made under 240 metres from sea level and the Channel Tunnel between France and England shows a testament of resilience and determination.

Coming back to India found that our first master plan for Calcutta was made in 1971 with the help of Soviet Specialist, Lenmetroproekt and East German Engineers for five transits totalling a length of 97.5 km. After that first work started for Kavi Subhash to Noapara line through which first time in India underground rail started for a length 3.4 km in October 1984 from Esplanade to Bhawanipur. This Bhawanipur now renamed as Netaji Station. After that gradually the work went on progress and ultimately today I could board this short distance from Howrah Maidan.

This underground metro made remarkable change not only in transit system but also socio economic conditions have been alleviated many fold.

But now I became more curious for some other information but all those information could not collect properly, like where the first elevated station was constructed. In which country metro first time running above ground but in this process I came across some more interesting information about the metro.

1. Came to know that Smallest Metro in the world is 'Metropoliton di Catania' at Sicily, Canada which covers only a length of 3.8 km length with a single line connecting 6 stations only.
2. The Smallest City in the world having metro for transportation is at Lausanne, Switzerland.
3. Found that the Saudi Arabian authority became first in the world, dedicating a metro in the name of 'Al Mashaaer Muqaddassah Metro' to carry pilgrims to Mecca.
4. First driverless 'Lille metro' was introduced in France in the year 1983.

Now, I am amazed. During my last 65 years I could never imagine of such change that what I am experiencing today. It is unbelievable. Could not control my joy. Feeling myself very inferior. Wish to have again to take admission to Engineering College because my knowledge, as a qualified engineer is now totally backdated but at the same time feeling very happy when finding my dearest city is now not only in country's map but world will also know its name for water underground rail. My dirty city now became very 'Sweety' and now I am writing my feeling that I have from yesterday in my diary as I do regularly.

Sweety 14/03/2024 &15/03/2024

Thrill thrill thrill
Thrilled all night
Tomorrow I shall ride
Metro Rail from Howrah Maidan site.

Howrah City
My all friends call it very dirty nasty
Is my dear darling
Very very much loving.

For long long time me living
It is Howrah my dear darling.

Today Metro will for first time
Start from Maidan at Green Line
Will take me Esplanade below river Hooghly
Never could imagine to have this journey
My Howrah city
Now become more more sweety.

Thrill thrill thrilled
Could not sleep
Thundering heart beat
Shall travel below river unbelieve.

Running walking as fast as can
First train at Seven from Howrah Maidan
Crossing the bust of Rishi Aurobindo
Take a pause to look at Vivekananda,
At front is a posh Mall backside Sarat Sadan
Also seen Planetarium beside the station.

Entered the well lit station underground
Looking at charming beauty spellbound.

Took ticket entered gate
Train at platform stepped in deck
Got a seat look around
So many people but not hearing any sound,
All are silent
Prevail excitement
Eyes glued at decoration
My known city became beautiful unknown.

All are now at coloured coach
Platform station look like a sweet roach
Train takes start we cheering up
Moves in tunnel that almost dark,
Child and old together with big gape
Looking outside inside moving neck,
All are in excitement
Disciplined silent
Taking selfie groupfie and even
Video call with distant granny and children.

Train moving in new made tunnel
Found many busy with their cell
Gazing guessing whispering all
Where the Girls' College where Hospital
Where Fish Market where Municipal.

Train stopped at Howrah Station
Not seen any Porter in Red Uniform
Not seen any Local Train
Not any Mail Express or Goods' even,
Black coat checkers found here missing
Not found passengers running,
Hawker beggar cannot enter
It's a Real Wonder!
Howrah, my lover,
Very dearer!

Came to know from announcer
We now passing through under water
Goosebumps in excitement
First time in life Great achievement,
Can't see water anywhere
All the tunnel glits with lights and colour
So good are displayed painting
Appears coloured fishes are all swimming.

Thinking how deep now I am
Where the bus and car where pedestrian
Cannot hear any honking sound
With which I was so long accustomed,
Can't see sunlight anywhere
That I saw from childhood bridge over
Train now moving water under
Charming charging getting shiver

My feeling cannot be expressed ever
I am lost total lost travelling under water,
Known bridge Howrah Bridge above me
Which I can not think how it could be
But really, I am under Hooghly river
Goosebumps on me still shiver.

Seen the sunlight coming out
A journey that just now completed about
Train stops at Mahakaran
Few minutes away from destination,
Last station Esplanade
We all alighted.
Friends who call my dear lover Howrah
Dirty nasty
Now feel envy,
The adage of Metro under river
Nasty dirty lover
becomes everybody's dearer.

Feeling proud to be a Howrah man
Completed my travel from Howrah Maidan
Shall remember my this exciting journey
Travelling under river is a real beauty
All my friends are now my envy
My Howrah is my darling sweety.

.    .    .