Kolkata’s 150-Year-Old Trams to be Discontinued
The West Bengal government has decided to stop the historic tram service in Kolkata, which started in 1873. These trams are a big part of the city’s history and charm. They were first introduced by the British and later adopted by other cities like Patna, Chennai, Nasik, and Mumbai, but only Kolkata kept them running.
Local Reactions
A local commuter expressed his sadness, saying, “It should not be discontinued. It is a lifeline for the people of Kolkata, especially the poor. Now the inflation has risen. Tickets in the bus and travelling by taxi are more costly than travelling by tram. It is the cheapest mode of travel. It is eco-friendly since it runs on electricity.”
Government’s Stand
Transport Minister Snehasis Chakraborty explained that trams are slow and people need faster ways to travel. He said that trams cause traffic problems, so they will stop all tram services except for one route from Esplanade to Maidan.
Celebrating 150 Years
In 2023, Kolkata celebrated 150 years of its tram service. State transport minister Snehasis Chakraborty and other officials marked the occasion by cutting cakes. The minister said, “Tram is our pride. Nowadays, tram routes are shorter than before. But the government tried to maintain some heritage routes of the tram. Our first priority is to ensure that tram services never end in the city.”
Voices from the Community
Udit Ranjan Gupta from the Calcutta Tram Users’ Association (CUTA) said, “The trams will tell the story of a mode of primary transport that is the oldest companion of our city to have survived. Now trams have become a secondary mode of transport, which is a big setback of our heritage tram.”
Manas Das, a tram conductor for 40 years, shared his thoughts: “This is a proud moment for us. For the last 40 years, I have been driving trams on different routes in Kolkata. Now, the service has become less, but people in the city want to ride the tram, and they wish that tram would never become history in Kolkata. I am happy to see the tram’s long journey and wish the government tried to continue tram service in Kolkata as a heritage transport mode.”
History of Kolkata Trams
Trams in Kolkata started as horse-drawn cars on February 24, 1873. Steam engines were added in 1882, and the first electric tram came in 1900. In 2013, air-conditioned trams were introduced.
Doubts Revealed
Trams -: Trams are a type of public transport that run on tracks on the road. They are like buses but use electricity and are more eco-friendly.
Discontinued -: Discontinued means to stop something. In this case, it means the trams will no longer run in Kolkata.
West Bengal Government -: The West Bengal Government is the group of people who make decisions for the state of West Bengal in India.
Historic -: Historic means something very old and important in history. The trams in Kolkata have been running for a very long time, since 1873.
Commuters -: Commuters are people who travel from one place to another, usually to work or school, every day.
Eco-friendly -: Eco-friendly means something that is good for the environment. Trams use electricity, which is cleaner than petrol or diesel.
Transport Minister -: The Transport Minister is a person in the government who is in charge of transportation systems like buses, trains, and trams.
Traffic issues -: Traffic issues mean problems with too many vehicles on the road, causing jams and delays.
Heritage symbol -: A heritage symbol is something that represents the history and culture of a place. The trams are a part of Kolkata’s history.
Horse-drawn cars -: Horse-drawn cars are old vehicles that were pulled by horses before engines were invented.
Electric and AC trams -: Electric trams run on electricity, and AC trams have air conditioning to keep passengers cool.
