Home / Business and Economy / Kolkata Trams: 153 Years Later, A Plea for Revival
Kolkata Trams: 153 Years Later, A Plea for Revival
6 Sep
Summary
- Tram users demand revival of key city routes on its 153rd anniversary.
- Services are now confined to two irregular routes, shrinking the network.
- A WWII-era vintage tram was celebrated, highlighting historical significance.
Kolkata's historic tram system marked its 153rd anniversary with a dual celebration and plea for revival. Transport activists renewed calls for restoring services on crucial city routes, noting that operations are now limited to two truncated and irregular lines: Shyambazar-Dharmatala and Gariahat-Dharmatala. This reduction has intensified the city's transport challenges, despite trams maintaining a steady passenger base. Enthusiasts celebrated the milestone with a decorated vintage tram, car number 498, a wooden carriage built during World War II under challenging conditions.
This vintage tram, a relic from the Nonapukur workshop, evoked nostalgia and underscored the system's deep connection to Kolkata's identity. Originally horse-drawn and introduced on February 24, 1873, the electric tram system once spanned 37 routes. Today, only two remain, prompting renewed demands for implementing a 2016 proposal to introduce 19 air-conditioned trams. Advocates emphasize that nearly 400 cities globally operate successful tram networks, integrating them into sustainable urban mobility plans.
