Tram, thought to be dead, set to dominate this weekend in Kolkata

On Saturday (January 11, 2025) nearly 200 children from Sri Sri Academy, a well-known school in Kolkata, will take a tram ride to get an idea of this once-popular medium of commute. File photo
| Photo Credit: DEBASISH BHADURI

The iconic Kolkata tram continues to be in use and in news — irrespective of the West Bengal government’s intention to consign it to history — with two events lined up this weekend in the city related to this gentle, environment-friendly mode of transport.

On Saturday (January 11, 2025) nearly 200 children from Sri Sri Academy, a well-known school, will take a tram ride to get an idea of this once-popular medium of commute; while on Sunday — Swami Vivekananda’s birthday — tram enthusiasts will hold a street protest to demand restoration of one of the three routes that are still alive.

“We are honoured to organise this miniature tram journey for the little kids. Children are the city’s future; we aspire to create a lovely and sustainable world for them. This journey aims to create environment awareness as well as provide the students an engaging experience with the city while enjoying the joy ride,” said filmmaker Mahadeb Shi, co-founder of Tramjatra, the 1996-founded initiative that is organising the ride.

“Four trams will be put into service for this ride. The children will travel from the Gariahat depot to Shyam Bazar terminus via Esplanade and back,” Mr. Shi said.

Gargi Banerjee, principal of Sri Sri Academy, told The Hindu that the idea was to introduce children to this 151-year-old mode of transport while it’s still alive so that they at least have memories of it once they grow up. “We have chosen primary-level students because most of them are not familiar with the tram. Very few tram routes remain now and by the time they grow up, nothing might be there. With this ride, they will at least carry forward memories that they can pass on to the subsequent generation,” she said.

Also read: An ode to Kolkata’s tram

And on Sunday, Mr. Shi will change his hat, from that of the co-founder of Tramjatra to the secretary of Calcutta Tram Users’ Association (CTUA), which will hold a protest meeting outside the Tollygunge depot to demand resumption of the Tollygunge-Ballygunge route, the only tram route in south Kolkata that is still officially active but that was closed some months ago due to track repair and has not been resumed. Only two routes, Esplanade-Gariahat and Shyam Bazar-Esplanade, are functional at the moment.

“This seems to be a gameplan between two State Government agencies — the West Bengal Transport Corporation and Kolkata Municipal Corporation — which always play an orchestra against the tramways. An expenditure of Rs. 7-8 lakh is required for final repairing of the tracks. None of the agencies seem to have adequate funds, according to official statements. I won’t be surprised if the KMC has deliberately created this fault because it is always in favour of dismantling the tramway,” CTUA president Debasish Bhattacharyya said.

Mr. Shi added: “This route (Tollygunge-Ballygunge) is extremely popular. A ticket costs only seven rupees, whereas commuters are now paying between Rs. 25 to 45 to autorickshaws. There is no reason to keep this route shut because it has a dedicated tram track that doesn’t interfere with the traffic movement.”