The end for Calcutta’s trams?
Posted on 21st October 2024 at 17:30
The great Indian city of Kolkata (Calcutta) with an estimated population of 4.5M (but 15M in the region) was developed by the East India Company from 1690 and was the de facto capital of India until 1911. A horse tramway was opened in 1873 and electrification was carried out in 1902-4. A maximum of 50 routes were operated. The Calcutta Tramways Company was nationalised by the West Bengal government in 1951 and became part of the West Bengal Transport Corporation in 2016. The system has declined due to the effects of increasing traffic congestion and the construction and development of the metro from 1978, plus more recently storm damage. The system has been threatened with closure several times due to the antagonism of government ministers, but has a passenger association to campaign for its retention, particularly on environmental grounds. Although there were 37 routes in 2011, today just two street-based lines remain, 5 (Shyambazar–Esplanade) and 25 (Gariahat–Esplande) with another 24/29 (Tollygunge–Ballygunge) suspended for utility work.
In September 2024 the West Bengal Transport Minister announced that the tramway system is to be permanently closed (apart from a heritage operation between Maidan and Esplanade). The Calcutta Tram Users Association organised a protest march on 5 October, supported by the Calcutta Tramways Workers’ Union. The Calcutta High Court has formed an advisory committee to consider the decision. In the meantime the police issued a suspension order for the period of Durga Puja (the Hindu festival celebrated from 9 to 15 October) on grounds of traffic congestion, with commentators predicting service would not resume. No trams ran on 16/17 October but on 22 October trams re-appeared on the streets, including between Ballygunge and Tollygunge (24/29).
Photo: Happier days for the Kolkata tramway as it celebrated 150 years of operation in 2023. (The Wire)

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