According to Transport Minister Snehasis Chakraborty, the 150-year-old tram service in Kolkata may soon come to an end as the state government has decided to stop it. Still, the isolated cultural section from Maidan to Esplanade will stand. Currently, the only city that still uses trams is Kolkata. The city’s tram enthusiasts have now made the choice to demonstrate against the plan to end service.
As per Snehasis Chakraborty, the current situation makes slow-moving trams, which worsen traffic during rush hour unfeasible since commuters need faster modes of transportation. He quoted, “Trams are undoubtedly a part of Kolkata’s heritage after their introduction in 1873 as horse-drawn carriages and played a crucial role in transportation in the previous century… But as roads comprise only 6 percent of Kolkata’s surface area, and with the increase in vehicular traffic, we have observed that trams cannot ply the roads along the same routes at the same time as it is leading to congestion.”
Chakraborty stated that the state government will make this submission in the upcoming hearing because the Calcutta High Court is presently deliberating over the running of trams. Numerous lines throughout the city have already seen the suspension of tram service. The minister pointed out that even in a metropolis with the fewest roads per capita, Kolkata’s police had been able to maintain traffic flow during rush hour.
He further adds, “To ensure that people don’t get late to office during peak hours due to traffic jams, we have to take certain difficult measures, including the withdrawal of trams.”
The minister also mentioned that retro trams will keep running between Maidan and Esplanade, providing passengers with a comfortable and environmentally responsible mode of transportation.