Trams - Lifeline of Kolkata, Affordable mode of transportation

Trams operated by Calcutta Tramways Company (CTC), since its inception in 1902, has occupied an important place in the heart of Kolkatans. Today Kolkata Trams serves as the oldest operating tram in Asia and perhaps the only one in India.

Kolkata Trams - Past & Present

In the year 1873, it was decided to run the Calcutta Tramways Service between Armenian Street Ghat and Sealdah but it was given a cold shoulder i.e. there were a very few commuters and hence the service was discontinued in the month of November.

Horse drawn meter gauge tram tracks were drawn from Sealdah to Armenian street through Strand Road, Dalhousie square and Bow Bazaar Street and was inaugurated by Lord Ripon.

The electrification of tramways started at the beginning of 19th century and metre gauge were shifted standard track and Kolkata Tram was run for the first time from Esplanade to Kiddopore. In 1904, the route from Esplanade to Bagbaazar via College street was opened.

In the year 1943, Kolkata system of tram was connected to Howrah , which was a major transition , thereby making the total length of tram approximately 70 kilometres.

The Government of West Bengal and Calcutta Tramways Company (CTC) entered into an agreement with each other in the year 1951, which led to the enactment of Calcutta Tramways Act of 1951.

The historical ordinance was passed in the year 1967, when the government assumed rights over Calcutta Tramways and in the year 1976, the entire system was unified with the government.

Popular Tram Routes

You can find it passing through the crowded streets. Today Calcutta Tramways Company with a fleet of 257 trams is making traveling and trasporation much easy in the city of joy.

They are 17.5 metres long and 2.1 meters wide trams are divided into compartments. Each compartment with wide entrance has a seating capacity of 62. In total it can carry loads of 200 passengers.

Belgatchia to Esplanade, Via R.G.Kar Rd – Bidhan Sarani – College Street – Nirmal Ch. Street – Lenin Sarani

Shyambazar to Esplanade, Via Bidhan Sarani – College Street – Nirmal Ch. Street – Lenin Sarani

Bidhan Nagar to BBD Bag, Via C.I.T. Rd. – Maniktala Main Rd. – A.P.C Rd. – Surya Sen St. – Raja Rammohan Roy Sarani – B.B. Ganguly Street – Lalbazar Street

Gariahat to Howrah Bridge, Via Ballygunge Phari, Park Circus, Mullick Bazar, Moulali, Sealdah, College Street, Mahatma Gandhi Road

Tollygunge - Esplanade, Via Rashbehari, Hazra, Gopal Nagar, Mominpur, Kidderpore, Maidan

Over one hundred and twenty five Kolkata trams run every day in Kolkata out of the total two hundred and fifty seven trams which the government owns.

Most of the trams were bought from the English Electric Company and Dick Kerr and Company till the year 1952 after which the production started being in India.

Only single Decker trams were used initially. Double Decker trams like in Mumbai have never been used in Kolkata trams and usage of triple decker trams has been extremely unsuccessful.

There were several types of rolling stocks used in trams namely Old SLC type, SLC type, Articulated and Renovated SLC type, New Cars and Single Bogie type.

Proposals are being floated to built trains with amenities such as restaurants and fully air-conditioned facilities. The latest addition is one such tram which offers a tour of the entire Kolkata city. Today with seven depots and nine terminals trams are serving the purpose of transportation in a better manner.