The state Transport Department is set to propose a major reduction in the tram services in the city. According to sources, the department will soon submit a policy to the High Court advocating for restricting various tram routes to a single heritage line. The state government will submit a detailed report explaining its policy on tramways.
Addressing the issue, state Transport Minister Snehashish Chakraborty said that there is a “PIL in the High Court and during a hearing the government was asked by the HC to submit their policy regarding trams, which we will submit soon.”
Currently, trams operate on three routes: Tollygunge to Ballygunge (24/29), Gariahat to Esplanade (25), and Shyambazar to Esplanade (5). However, the government is open to maintaining one single line of the tram service, in the race course area, so that its heritage is preserved.
“It’s not practical to run trams on city roads in today’s time. We will keep the tram only to the extent that it’s heritage is preserved,” Chakraborty told The Indian Express. “Tram was functional in 15 cities apart from Kolkata, but gradually it was called off everywhere, definitely there are reasons. Kolkata has only 6 percent road space which is very less compared to cities like Delhi, Mumbai. Number of vehicles is going up every day. In such a situation is it possible to run a mode of transportation, which was fit for the world 150 years ago. Trams run in the middle of busy roads. People board and deboard disrupting vehicular movement…we can’t compromise with smooth traffic movement. Kolkata is considered best in terms of traffic management, in terms of electric vehicles, its on top,” he further said.
Meanwhile, the proposed policy is facing stiff opposition from heritage conservationists and other organisations. A coalition of tram, cycle, environment-focused organizations, along with city dwellers, staged a protest at the Calcutta Press Club last month, demanding reinstatement of trams in Kolkata.
Leading the charge against the government’s move, the Calcutta Tram Users Association (CTUA) highlighted the government’s disregard for a High Court-appointed committee formed to devise a plan for revival of trams. Despite recommendations from the committee and the organization, the government has persisted in its efforts to phase out trams.
“The government’s decision to curtail tram routes in Kolkata is short-sighted move… Assertion that trams are slow, accident-prone is blatantly false… trams offer an economical, eco-friendly mode of transportation, but the government seems interested in financial gain,” said Debasish Bhattacharyya, retired scientist and president of CTUA. Pointing out air pollution crisis in Kolkata, CTUA general secretary Mahadeb Shi, held government responsible for neglecting environment by failing to prioritize tram transportation, mode of transport known for low carbon footprint.
Click here to join The Indian Express on WhatsApp and get latest news and updates