No Fixed Date To Discontinue Trams In Kolkata, Says Bengal Transport Minister As Decision Sparks Row

West Bengal Transport Minister Snehashish Chakraborty said trams are currently running on three routes, and his department will decide which routes will remain in operation.

The West Bengal government's proposal to do away with Kolkata's 150-year-old tram service has sparked a debate. However, West Bengal Transport Minister Snehashish Chakraborty has clarified that no specific date has been set for discontinuing the city's iconic tram services. Chakraborty had on Monday announced the government's decision to discontinue trams barring on one stretch, which led to calls for protest from tram lovers, PTI reported.

Acknowledging the emotional connection of the public to trams, he told The Indian Express, “We are not discontinuing tramways from today or tomorrow, we are aware of people’s emotions. Moreover, the matter is also pending with the Calcutta High Court. We will abide by what the court directs or orders."

He also said that while hearing a public litigation petition on December 11 last year, the court suggested that a public-private partnership (PPP) model could be utilised to restore and rejuvenate tram services in Kolkata.

“Tramways are leading to traffic jams and road accidents. It is also not economically viable,” he added.

Kolkata Is Last City Where Trams Still Run

He said trams are currently running on three routes, and his department will decide which routes will remain in operation. The iconic tram service of Kolkata marked its 151st anniversary on February 24, 2024. The first trams, then drawn by horses, appeared on the city’s streets in 1873.

They were once a popular urban transport option in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai, as well as smaller towns such as Nashik, Patna, and Bhavnagar, but now Kolkata is the last city in India where trams still run. 

The first electric tramways in India began in 1895 in Madras (now Chennai), revolutionising city transport with cleaner and quieter vehicles. Kolkata introduced its first electric trams in 1902, with routes between Esplanade and Kidderpore, and Esplanade and Kalighat. Erstwhile Bombay followed suit in 1907.

Several people have voiced strong objections to the government's decision to suspend tram services. According to a PTI report, the Calcutta Tram Users Association (CUTA) gas announced plans to hold demonstrations at five tram depots across the city to protest the move of the government.