Kolkata Tram Service Suspended During Durga Puja Yet to Resume; Tram Enthusiasts Fear It May Not Return

Uncertainty looms over Kolkata’s tram services, as the possibility of closure intensifies with no official orders to resume operations following the Durga Puja festivities. Services were suspended due to concerns over traffic congestion.

Tram employees and supporters express fears that the remaining three routes might face extinction, following the fate of numerous other erstwhile popular lines, potentially marking the end of Kolkata’s 152-year-old tram system.

West Bengal Transport Minister Snehasis Chakraborty noted that no formal decision regarding the resumption of tram services will be made until a court ruling is issued. The Minister further indicated a lack of governmental interest in maintaining tram operations, citing their contribution to Kolkata’s traffic woes.

“I understand the emotional connection to the tram; however, it no longer serves a purpose in a densely populated city like Kolkata, where road space has only increased by 6%,” stated Chakraborty. He compared Kolkata’s situation to cities like Lisbon, which have significantly lower population densities.

Ironically, while historical tram services once facilitated pandal-hopping during Durga Puja, this year marked a significant shift, with trams completely off the road, deemed obstructive to traffic.

The official suspension was to last from 3 p.m. on October 7 until October 15, 2024. However, as of October 17, tram depots remained idle, awaiting orders to restart operations. Despite preparations and readiness at depots like Gariahat, no directive to resume services had been received.

Debasish Bhattacharyya, president of the Calcutta Tram Users’ Association, criticized the traffic police’s suspension order, labeling it an anti-people move, suggesting there should be an investigation into the West Bengal Transport Corporation’s response. He highlighted the fare hikes for alternative transport options during the puja as evidence of public exploitation.

Arghyadip Hatua, a member of the CTUA and urban transport activist, expressed disappointment over the tram’s exclusion from the celebrations, emphasizing the importance of preserving this cultural heritage.