“No Intention to Abolish Kolkata Tram”: Government of Bengal

Kolkata:

The tram carnival is back in Kolkata after a four-year hiatus on Friday, marking 150 years of the only operational tram system in the country.

Since 1996, ‘Tramjatra’, a global collaboration of tram enthusiasts, artists, environmentalists and communities, has been on the move in Melbourne and Kolkata. The festival highlights the value of trams through awareness campaigns for cultural heritage, healthy living and sustainability.

The theme of Tramjatra this year is Heritage, Clean Air and Green Mobility.

For five days, colorful trams run through the city displaying works of art, including paintings and posters with themes of sustainable development.

Local youth will perform musical and theatrical performances in moving trams, while Roberto D’Andrea, a retired tram conductor from the Australian city, will hand out specially designed ‘Tramjatra’ cards to passengers.

“We are unable to operate trams on all routes due to the construction of flyovers and Metro Rail infrastructure. Government has no plans to abolish trams from Kolkata. We are in consultation with Kolkata Municipal Corporation and Kolkata Police to to run trams on some routes without hindering traffic,” said Transport Minister Snehasis Chakraborty.

Mr Chakraborty, who attended the inaugural function of the carnival at the Esplanade terminus in central Kolkata, said that the tram is “our emotion and our heritage. I am not here today to say goodbye to the Kolkata- tram. But due to the increasing population and vehicles and with no expansion of roads, it is difficult to run trams everywhere.” There are plans to create a heritage route around the Maidan area, he said.

Roberto D’Andrea, the retired Melbourne tram conductor, said that coming from another ‘great tram city’, it is a privilege for him to attend the 150th anniversary of Kolkata’s tram service.

“We have come back with the privilege of celebrating heritage. We have come back with a desire to help reduce air pollution levels,” he told PTI.

Filmmaker and singer Anjan Dutta was present at the event.

On February 24, 1873, the first streetcar in the city rolled onto the track.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NewsMadura staff and is being published from a syndicated feed.)