Resumption of Tram Services in Kolkata After Two-Week Suspension
Tram services resumed on Tuesday morning, October 22, 2024, in Kolkata. The joy knows no bounds for tram workers and tram enthusiasts in Kolkata as tram services resumed after a two-week suspension on account of the Durga Puja celebrations. Though routes of the trams were fewer with only two functional routes operational, hope has been rekindled in the minds of many with resumption but the future is still uncertain before the Calcutta High Court's decision regarding the continuation of the century-old trams in Kolkata. Home to three hundred years of history, this city continues to hold up its legacy in terms of rich architectural heritages, including majestically built Imperial Quest European architecture. The beauty within provides scope for merriment and celebration.
Will Trams Survive?
In short, the government of West Bengal does not care if the tram service is in operation in the city or not. It was once a popular way to travel. What was once a huge network is now down to three, with only two in operation. The services were suspended on October 7, 2024, due to the likely congestion on the roads during the Durga Puja. When nothing happened on October 16 when it was expected to start again, the employees and enthusiasts began to feel that it could be the last.
Earlier, many roads were closed down during the pretext of 'temporary suspension' that eventually went for good. Thus, the threat of trams being shut down once and for all looms large.
Happiness and Caution: The Mixed Response to Tram Services After Resumption
On 21 October 2024 evening, all the city's tram depots received the word that the services will start next day morning. The joyous news was commemorated by the messaging among the tram workers. By 6:05 a.m on October 22, the first tram leaves from the Gariahat depot towards Esplanade, followed shortly with another tram that leaves from Esplanade towards Shyambazar. In total 10 tram services were run during the day.
Arghyadip Hatua, an urban transport activist, mentioned that the tram's performance was the best in any other Tuesday since the lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic. On Tuesday, the much-delayed Ballygunge-Tollygunge route also got a test run, and its chances of hitting the streets are likely to begin from 23rd October, 2024.
The Fight to Save Kolkata's Trams
Unfazed by the easing, most of them remain silent. "The Kolkata tram is still on life support," said Hatua from the Calcutta Tram Users' Association. "The government has made many empty promises and we will continue to fight for the safety of this historic means of transport.".
With a lot of trams being revived all over the world as an integral component of public transport in cities, Hatua feels that Kolkata's trams can act as a model for sustainable public transport in India.
A Nostalgic Look: Trams - A Fading Heritage
For many, the trams in this city will be synonymous with nostalgia. The number of routes has reduced to just three, and with those too, trams will fade away from the city's landscape. Trams have been an integral part of Kolkata's identity for 152 years and remind people of the good old times.
It is very painful for many locals to think that the next generation will hear only stories about trams. There is grave concern if they will survive this new threat, but among all this, their emotional bonding with these trams remains in all the hearts of the city.
Image Source: Multiple agencies
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