Ahead of 152nd b’day experts demand full tram network back
Times of India | 24 February 2025
12 Kolkata: As the city marks the 152nd anniversary of its iconic tramways, experts are urging the govt to restore the full tram network, highlighting its role in reducing emissions and complementing the expanding metro system. The unique combination of trams and metro, they argue, could create a comprehensive, zero-emission public transportation solution.
On the eve of the milestone, experts from the Institute of Ahead Town Planners, India, emphasised the need to integrate Kolkata's tram network with the growing metro corridors.Champions Trophy 2025IND vs PAK Live: Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer lead India's run chase vs Pakistan in DubaiIND vs PAK: Virat Kohli reaches 14,000 ODI runs in 299th matchHardik Pandya vs Babar Azam: Social media sparks meme fest after Pandya’s send-off to Pakistan batterThey believe such an initiative could unlock carbon credits, an opportunity boosted by the recent ratification of the carbon credit system at the COP summit.
Dipankar Sinha, former director-general of Town Planning at the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), said, "The metro and tram together could offer a seamless, sustainable transit solution, earning carbon credits while enhancing the city's mass-transit infrastructure."
In particular, the expanding metro system, which serves as the backbone of Kolkata's public transport, faces challenges in providing efficient feeder and dispersal services. Tramways, with their extensive network and local connectivity, can fill this gap. Experts pointed out that without an efficient feeder system like the tram, the metro's full potential may be undermined.
Railway engineer Indranil Banerjee echoed these sentiments, underscoring the tram's accessibility and affordability. "Cities like Mumbai have lost their tram systems, making it impossible to reintroduce them. Kolkata, however, has the opportunity to revitalise its tram network, especially in areas where bus services are limited. A tram ride from Park Circus to Esplanade costs just Rs 6, while the alternative, an auto-rickshaw, costs Rs 25."
Tuhin Subhra Maparu, a transport planning expert from IIEST, added that studies have shown metro ridership typically shifts from one mass transit system to another, rather than from private vehicles to metro. "Only feeder services like trams can match the metro's standards of safety, convenience, and punctuality. The entire mass transit network, otherwise, risks inefficiency," he said.
Sinha further highlighted the financial challenges faced by metro systems across the country, many of which, including Delhi's, are experiencing mounting losses. "In contrast, Kolkata's tram system has continued to operate at a relatively low cost. If the metro network in the city does not have a reliable feeder service like trams, it too could face underutilisation, potentially leading to the decline of certain metro alignments," he warned.
International perspectives on the benefits of trams were also shared by David Benko, a tram operator from Vienna. Having observed the city's tram network, he noted similarities between Vienna and Kolkata. "When Vienna introduced its metro system, there was a belief that trams would no longer be needed. However, over time, Vienna has expanded both its metro and tram systems, which now complement each other, reducing road congestion and enhancing connectivity," he said. Benko visited the city earlier when most of the routes were operative. "The congestion on roads where tram services were withdrawn increased manifold," he said.
The debate about dismantling the tram network is not new. In the early 1970s, there was a proposal to remove trams from the congested Rabindra Sarani (Chitpore Road). R N Dutta, a noted transport planner, recalled how he, as a junior engineer at the time, argued against the plan, emphasising the tram's significance to the area. "I told Rabindra Sarani exists as the tramway exists there. Tram is not just transportation—it is part of the identity of Chitpore Road. The plan to remove trams was eventually halted," he recalled.
Dutta also highlighted the potential of the public-private partnership (PPP) model, as endorsed by the Calcutta High Court. "In the past, the Calcutta Tram Company was a thriving entity, with many prominent citizens owning shares. Given the tram's legacy and historical importance, I believe there is significant potential for private investment in its restoration," he concluded.
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