Kolkata News Desk !! The country’s 151-year-old heritage is on the verge of ending. Yes, we are talking about the tram running in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal, which is slowly coming to an end. Introduced in the British era in the year 1873, this vehicle was first pulled by horses, then in the 1900s it was powered by steam and today runs on the streets of Kolkata with modern technology. But today this network of transport is in danger and the reason for this is the indifferent attitude towards maintenance. Along with the lack of maintenance, today its parts have also started deteriorating and the factories making new parts have also closed down, due to which the trams are becoming obsolete. This is what Deep Das, an 18-year-old student and a member of the Calcutta Tram Users Association (CTUA), who is struggling to save the existence of the tram.
The life of the tram ranged from 50 to 80 years
Association member and retired biochemist Debashish Bhattacharya says the tram is the cheapest mode of transport for the city’s people, but a small investment is needed to save its lost existence. He accused the state politicians of ignoring the potential economic success of the tram. Today, the lifespan of trams is 50 to 80 years, while the lifespan of buses is 5 to 10 years, while the tram is the soul of the city for many. Kolkata is the only city in India to have a tramway. He warned that if it is removed, not only the city but also the country will lose its pride. The tram passes through the winding streets of the city. When the tram starts its journey, thousands of people wait for the tram to pass through a jam of old yellow taxis, trucks, buses, cars and sometimes cattle.
Rent is cheaper than street tea
The West Bengal Transport Corporation argues that the bright blue and white stripes of the tram’s uniform are often repainted. They run at a maximum speed of 20 kilometres (12 miles) per hour when not stuck in traffic. Today it does not emit any harmful smoke or noise. With a fare of Rs 7, the tram carries 5 times more passengers than a bus, of course today the number of trams has reduced, but even today the tram is cheaper than a cup of tea on the road and cheaper than a bus. At the same time, the reason for its low use is its speed and irregular timetable, due to which many passengers prefer to travel by taxi or bus by paying more to reach on time.
Today many trams are standing in a neglected condition
In the 1940s, people would board one tram and get off another, running on several routes across the city, says Ram Singh, a 54-year-old teacher. Today, many of the trams are abandoned in the same location, their paint peeling off. Some of them date back to the 1940s. The association organises community meetings, puts up posters and tries to address the trams’ challenges, but their role also includes monitoring breakdowns and electrical problems. This makes them realise that the trams’ lives are coming to an end. Despite this, they have vowed to continue fighting for the trams’ future.
