In the bustling streets of Kolkata, history is ever-present. Nostalgia, too. The trams of Kolkata will join the nostalgia list after plying the length and breadth of the City of Joy for 151 years. The slowness of the trams somehow blended with the slow-moving city. If the Victoria Memorial defined Calcutta (now Kolkata’s) skyscape, the trams became a visual marker of its cityscape.
The trams have hit a dead end after their 151-year-long journey as the West Bengal government announced it was discontinuing tram services in October.
“Sad” and “shaken” are how Kolkatans are expressing their sadness on social media and bidding adieu to the city’s another piece of living history. It was “an escape” said a Kolkata resident.
Now, escaping the nostalgia surrounding trams will be difficult. It is deep as trams were an integral part of Kolkata’s city life.
A small stretch from Maidan to the Esplanade will be retained for tram lovers, for that occasional time machine ride.
Here’s a Photo Memory journey of trams from the horse-drawn era in the 18th century to an electric tram library in 2020.
WHEN CALCUTTA TRAMS WERE ABOUT HORSE POWER
The first horse-drawn trams in India made their maiden journey on February 24, 1873, along a short 3.9-km stretch from Sealdah to Armenian Ghat in Kolkata. The attempt was short-lived as it didn’t get many patrons, but laid the groundwork for the trams to come. The first electric-powered trams would ply between these points.
ELECTRIC TRAMS INTRODUCED IN KOLKATA
Calcutta Tramways Company was formed and registered in London in 1880, and metre-gauge tram tracks were laid from Sealdah to Armenian Ghat via key landmarks such as Bowbazar Street, Dalhousie Square, and Strand Road. The route was inaugurated by Lord Ripon, the then Viceroy of India, on November 1, 1880. Initially used for hauling goods from river ports and railway stations, the service soon expanded for the use of people.
A milestone for Kolkata’s trams also came with the introduction of electric trams in 1902. On March 27, 1902, the first electric tramcar ran from the Esplanade to Kidderpore, revolutionising public transport in Kolkata. That was also the first electric tram car in all of Asia.
This electrification marked the beginning of a new stage of trams, with tracks being converted to standard gauge and new routes being introduced, including the Esplanade to Kalighat route.
THE PEAK ERA OF TRAMS: 20TH CENTURY
By the early 20th century, the tram network had expanded significantly with 37 routes across the city. The tram became a popular mode of public transport, connecting various parts of the city and beyond, including the Howrah section, which was linked via the Howrah Bridge.
In 1946, the tram was the first vehicle to cross the new Howrah Bridge. In 1951, the government of West Bengal made an agreement with the Calcutta Tramways Company, introducing the Calcutta Tramways Act of 1951, which essentially gave the tramways system over to the state government for management.
The heyday of Kolkata’s trams was in the early 20th century, with the network reaching its peak in terms of coverage and usage.
However, from the 1970s onwards, the trams began to experience a steady decline in popularity.
The rise of cars and buses on Kolkata’s narrow streets made trams cumbersome and contributed to traffic congestion. Despite this, trams have remained a beloved mode of transport, particularly among college students who find them a quiet and affordable way to travel.
TRAMS IN BENGALI FILMS
Kolkata’s trams have been more than just a mode of transport; they have been an integral part of the city’s cultural fabric. They have inspired numerous works in literature, film, and music. In Satyajit Ray’s 1964 film ‘Mahanagar’ (The Big City), the tram is depicted as a symbol of the city’s grind and tedium. The trams have also been featured in other films like ‘Apur Sansar’ and have been the subject of several Bengali songs, such as Shreya Ghoshal’s ‘Chawl Rastaye’.
DELHI, BOMBAY AMONG SEVERAL CITIES WITH TRAMS
Trams were not limited to just Kolkata. Several Indian cities, including Bombay, Madras, Delhi, Poona and Calcutta, had trams.
Trams started in Bombay (now Mumbai) in 1874 and followed by Madras (now Chennai) in 1895, Delhi in 1904, Kanpur in 1914, and Poona (now Pune) in the early 20th century.
By the mid-20th century, the tram systems faced decline in these cities due to the rise of buses and private vehicles.
WHY TRAMS ONLY LASTED IN KOLKATA
Unlike other Indian cities, Kolkata’s trams endured for several reasons. The city’s narrow streets and historical architecture made it difficult to expand road networks, making trams a viable alternative. Additionally, the trams were highly affordable, with ticket prices starting from as low as Rs 5 to Rs 10, making them accessible to a wide range of people.
The city’s relatively lower car ownership rates compared to its metropolitan counterparts also contributed to the sustained demand for tram services.
TRAM LIBRARY TO 150 YEARS OF TRAM
In 2020, Kolkata launched India’s first electric tram library. It was an amalgamation of two things Kolkata holds dear– literature and trams.
Three years later, Kolkata celebrated 150 years of tram services in the city. The state transport minister Snehasish Chakraborty and other officials celebrated this moment by cutting a cake.
“Tram is our pride. Nowadays, tram routes are shorter than before. But the government tried to maintain some heritage routes of the tram. Our first priority is to ensure that tram services never end in the city,” said the minister.
Kolkata was the only Indian city to have an operational tram service.
THE LAST CHAPTER AND THE FINAL GOODBYE
Despite their historical significance and environmental benefits, the trams have become a relic of the past. The announcement to discontinue tram services, except for a short heritage stretch between Maidan and Esplanade, marks the end of an era. This decision comes at a time when the world is grappling with climate change, and sustainable public transport systems like electric trams are more relevant than ever.
Though trams lost the transport race against buses and cars, people of Kolkata can’t let go of their fond memories on the slow-moving coaches on tracks right in the middle of metalled roads. They want to hold on to those memories, because memories are what Kolkata is essentially built of. And the tram will be a mainstay of memories.