West Bengal Government firm on doing away with iconic tram service
In an atmosphere still charged with emotions aroused by the RG Kar Hospital rape and murder incident, residents of Kolkata have been hit by a fresh blow from the state government.
The government has decided to tell the high court that it will scrap the city’s iconic tram service and will retain only one route as a showpiece for heritage purposes.
The court, while hearing a PIL petition last December, had suggested that a public-private partnership (PPP) model can be used to restore tramcar services in Kolkata.
The Calcutta Tram Users Association has called for a people's demonstration at Shyambazar Tram Depot in protest against the decision.
Kolkata is the only city in the country where trams continue to operate. Last February, the city’s tram service celebrated 150 years of its first run. The first trams, drawn by horses, took to the city’s streets on February 24, 1873.
At present, trams are operational on only three routes.
The court, while hearing a PIL petition last December, had suggested that a public-private partnership (PPP) model can be used to restore tramcar services in Kolkata.
However, the government has decided to file an affidavit, saying it will scrap the services and retain the services in the Esplanade-Kudderpore route only when the case comes up for hearing.
West Bengal Transport Minister Snehashish Chakraborty said though the government was keen on discontinuing tramways from “most parts of Kolkata, there is no date fixed to do so”.
“We are not discontinuing tramways from today or tomorrow. We are aware of people’s emotions,” he told reporters.
“Moreover, the matter is also pending in the Calcutta High Court. We will abide by what the court directs or orders,” Chakraborty said.
