Source :

Old Kolkata Tram Route Map
http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/5627/trammap.jpg




This map is much backdated, there are many routes closed, which are shown operating. E.g. –
1) Now tram is not running towards Behala & Joka.
2) Tram service is closed between Garhiahat depot & Baliganj line.
3) Tram is now not running between Galiff Street & Shyambazar Jn.
4) Route 13, 27, 35, 36 are now closed.
5) Newly opened route 18 is not shown on this map.
6) There are many spelling mistakes, and map errors.
7) Formerly closed tracks on Hare Street, Bentinck Street is not shown on this map.

Updated Map

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/85/Kolkata_tram_map.png

This map was drawn by me.

can you update the ctc site with more new tram pics

Sorry, I can't because CTC's website is Govt. of W.B. Undertaking. It'll be better to touch with Wilipedia's page 'Calcutta Tramways Company', for future updates of photos from me.

Tram depot & metro station at Belgachhia is only 4 minutes walking distance.

The tram route 3 was closed around 1980, when I was only 3 years old. That route was From Belgachhia to Dharmatala via Bentinck Street. In my childhood, there were still tracks & wires on Bentinck Street, but all covered & removed around 1994. A sharp eye should find some electric masts & tram stop signs still present on Bentinck street. Tram was closed for constructing metro, but aftere opening metro, it wasn't returned, as a fake excuse of traffic jam. But don't the parked big police vans creates permanent jams years after years till now at Lalbazar crossing?

Ki Buddhababu? Chup keno?

Belgachhia depot also closed half of tram tracks in 1992 for opening bus service. Previously, there were 11 tracks under shed, but today only 6 remains.

Tram terminus & metro station at Shyambazar is only 6 minutes walking distance.

The tram route 9 was closed around 1980, when I was only 3 years old. That route was From Shyambazar to Dharmatala via Bentinck Street. In my childhood, there were still tracks & wires on Bentinck Street, but all covered & removed around 1994. A sharp eye should find some electric masts & tram stop signs still present on Bentinck street. Tram was closed for constructing metro, but after opening metro, it wasn't returned, as a fake excuse of traffic jam. But don't the parked big police vans creates permanent jams years after years till now at Lalbazar crossing?

Ki Buddhababu? Chup keno?

Once, the Shyambazar junction was the largest tram junction of Kolkata. Today, only trams from Belgachhia can go to Rajabazar & Hatibagan, but previously, there were also linking tracks for moving tram from Belgachhia to Galiff Street, Galiff Street to Rajabazar & Galiff street to Hatibagan.

Another matter of shame, 3 gates of Shyambazar metro station is permanently closed. those are to Krishnaram Basu Street, Choudhuri Lane & Bhupen Basu Avenue North. When it is one of the busiest metro station of Kolkata, how dare they to close 3 gates to make exiting & entring much difficult!!!???

Behala-Joka trams on last lap?

State Decides To Stop Financial Assistance For Route, Cites Upcoming Metro Project

Krishnendu Bandyopadhyay | TNN

Kolkata: The state government has sentenced the Behala-Joka tram facility to death. Well, almost. At a recent meeting, it decided to stop financial assistance for services on that route citing the impending Joka-Dalhousie Metro project.
The Behala-Joka route has already been disjointed from the remaining tram network in the city. It was destined to die after the transport department withdrew tracks from Behala tram depot to Mominpore. The upcoming Metro project also spells doom for the remaining Mominpore-Khidderpore stretch along Diamond Harbour Road.
The eco-friendly Kolkata tram, a city icon, is the only mode of passenger transport of its kind in India. After constructing Taratala flyover, the transport department went back on its promise to revive trams along Diamond Harbour Road. Soon, tracks from Mominpore to Behala were withdrawn, leaving behind tram services only from Behala to Joka.
“Since the Metro track along Diamond Harbour Road will be elevated, tram services will automatically be redundant on that stretch. So, we are gradually making room for construction of the Metro,” said transport minister Ranjit Kundu.
The Behala-Joka route is in a moribund state. There is no tram workshop along the stretch except for a small repair or maintenance bay at Joka which cannot handle any major technical snag. So if a tram develops a major snag, Calcutta Tramways will have no option but to reject it. No wonder, the Behala-Joka service is now down to two trams. “As technical snags are frequent due to the age of trams, services are often seriously disrupted. Sometimes, only one tram plies between Behala and Joka,” said a Calcutta Tramways Company (CTC) employee at Behala depot.
Withdrawal of tracks along Diamond Harbour Road will directly affect three depots. Trams from Ballygunge and Kalighat depots will never reach Esplanade. The government has already spent a huge sum on concretizing tracks along Judges Court Road and remaining stretch of Diamond Harbour Road. “Work was ordered long before the Metro project was announced,” said an officer of Hooghly River Bridge Commissioner (HRBC). However, during construction of the elevated Metro, the entire concretization is likely to be undone, said an expert.
Metro construction will also destroy the tram network from Khidderpore to Esplanade. Like Behala, another disjointed depot will emerge. “Trams from Kidderpore depot can never go to Kalighat or Ballygunge. Trams from the Ballygunge depot go to Tollygunge and Kalighat only. So, Khidderpore, Ballygunge, Tollygunge and Kalighat depots will be cut off from the rest of the network,” said a CTC official.
Snapping a network has longstanding impact on the entire system. “First, a number of routes get abolished. As inter-connectivity is lost, the service is affected. Unreliability of service makes trams a less preferable mode of transport. So, operating these becomes a greater burden for CTC,” said a transport official.

Behala-Joka trams on last lap?

State Decides To Stop Financial Assistance For Route, Cites Upcoming Metro Project

Krishnendu Bandyopadhyay | TNN

Kolkata: ...... The eco-friendly Kolkata tram, a city icon, is the only mode of passenger transport of its kind in India. After constructing Taratala flyover, the transport department went back on its promise to revive trams along Diamond Harbour Road. Soon, tracks from Mominpore to Behala were withdrawn, leaving behind tram services only from Behala to Joka.

........ Metro construction will also destroy the tram network from Khidderpore to Esplanade. Like Behala, another disjointed depot will emerge.
......... Snapping a network has longstanding impact on the entire system. “First, a number of routes get abolished. As inter-connectivity is lost, the service is affected. Unreliability of service makes trams a less preferable mode of transport. So, operating these becomes a greater burden for CTC,” said a transport official.

I think the News Paper is going over board to express its grief for the death of tram services, Metro is Quicker, Comfortable and Eco friendly mode of transport which will de-congest the traffic also. Hence the obituary for the tram services of an ageing and ailing trams of BEHALA -JOKA is justified. "MAY GOD BLESS THE DEPARTED SOUL "

One of the biggest problem of Kolkata tram in certain routes is that the trams run in a direction opposite to that of normal traffic , thus creating traffic woes . Neither the tram can move smoothly nor normal traffic.

Some such situations are showwn in these fotos:------

Ultadanga :--

http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/1139/spa0228l.jpg

http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/5764/spa0229.jpg

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

College Street :--

http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/1411/spa0232h.jpg

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/8020/spa0230.jpg

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/8020/spa0230.jpg

So when there is no new news about Kolkata Metro,just post some unrelated topics and pictures. :ohno:

if its for hertage purpose, let it be on a heritage route, like the Maidan-Khidderpore route, its the best tram route in city!!
Personally in donot want trams on DH Road, arey yaar past is past, its better to forget the tram...let them R-I-P..its a bane more than a boon for behala wasis!! Instead the CTC people should be given bus to drive. like it was done earlier!!


arrre i was just kidding yaar :) . infact i too want this tram business to wind up and make way for metro .

arrre i was just kidding yaar :) . infact i too want this tram business to wind up and make way for metro .

I do not want the trams to wind up.. In fact, I would want the trams to be used effectively..

As a suggestion, trams may be introduced in various new routes and may serve as a feeder to the metro. There is no point running trams on the same alignment as the metro.

We do need trams in Kolkata.. One good way to utilise the trams effectively is to remove the autos from city limits and replace those with trams.. This will drastically reduce traffic on road.. Autos in Kolkata mostly serve as a feeder as one can not rent an auto to go his desired location.. rather, the auto would run on its own route and the passenger would need to figure out ways to reach his destination from the nearest point on the auto route.. But yes, to remove auto from city limits, the government would need to provide sufficient bus services and a planned tram service.. may be a few lines within the city may be removed, but Kolkata does need trams.. Kolkata without trams is not the Kolkata I would want to see..

Trams do have a lot of scope in the suburbs too, provided suburbs are developed and lakhs of people do not need to rush to the city for daily work.. I would also want to see modern air conditioned trams, dedicated tram routes, intra-city tram connectivity in planned townships like Salt Lake, Kalyani, Patuli, etc.

I do not want the trams to wind up.. In fact, I would want the trams to be used effectively..

As a suggestion, trams may be introduced in various new routes and may serve as a feeder to the metro. There is no point running trams on the same alignment as the metro.

We do need trams in Kolkata.. One good way to utilise the trams effectively is to remove the autos from city limits and replace those with trams.. This will drastically reduce traffic on road.. Autos in Kolkata mostly serve as a feeder as one can not rent an auto to go his desired location.. rather, the auto would run on its own route and the passenger would need to figure out ways to reach his destination from the nearest point on the auto route.. But yes, to remove auto from city limits, the government would need to provide sufficient bus services and a planned tram service.. may be a few lines within the city may be removed, but Kolkata does need trams.. Kolkata without trams is not the Kolkata I would want to see..

Trams do have a lot of scope in the suburbs too, provided suburbs are developed and lakhs of people do not need to rush to the city for daily work.. I would also want to see modern air conditioned trams, dedicated tram routes, intra-city tram connectivity in planned townships like Salt Lake, Kalyani, Patuli, etc.

I am inline with U . I feel running tram and metro simultaneously is very costly and also meaningless . Yaa its a fact dat trams coz traffic jams . I feel trams should be employed in relatively less congested area .

But one more important thing , running BRTS and metro rail simultaneously on E M Bypass would also be the same case . It would be costly as well meaningless . But now its too late coz BRTS construction is on and the tender for the E M Bypass metro has been floated . :ohno:

infact people along the Bypass will have to think before going somewhere whether to use the metro rail or the BRTS :lol: .

I do not want the trams to wind up.. In fact, I would want the trams to be used effectively..

As a suggestion, trams may be introduced in various new routes and may serve as a feeder to the metro. There is no point running trams on the same alignment as the metro.

We do need trams in Kolkata.. One good way to utilise the trams effectively is to remove the autos from city limits and replace those with trams.. This will drastically reduce traffic on road.. Autos in Kolkata mostly serve as a feeder as one can not rent an auto to go his desired location.. rather, the auto would run on its own route and the passenger would need to figure out ways to reach his destination from the nearest point on the auto route.. But yes, to remove auto from city limits, the government would need to provide sufficient bus services and a planned tram service.. may be a few lines within the city may be removed, but Kolkata does need trams.. Kolkata without trams is not the Kolkata I would want to see..

Trams do have a lot of scope in the suburbs too, provided suburbs are developed and lakhs of people do not need to rush to the city for daily work.. I would also want to see modern air conditioned trams, dedicated tram routes, intra-city tram connectivity in planned townships like Salt Lake, Kalyani, Patuli, etc.

I do agree with you .. I do not want to see trams going off the roads in Kolkata . I do agree trams are not required in the busy roads. But they can definitely be planned as feeder routes to the metro and also in the new townships in Rajarhaat and Salt Lake.

I definitely would like to see trams take a more modern look like in Melbourne and Toronto.
Within the Kolkata city limits develop the trams more on a heritage and tourism prespective.

BTW -= I have read that there is heritage tram ride in Kolkata . is it still running ?

TELEGRAPH (http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110530/jsp/calcutta/story_14044865.jsp)
Joka tram tracks to be removed in 14 days
OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

The tram tracks between Joka and Behala will be ripped off in two weeks to facilitate work for the Joka-BBD Bag Metro Railway project, officials said on Sunday.

The 6km stretch, which had held up the project during the reign of Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, has been handed over to the railway ministry following chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s intervention.

“The overhead wires that supplied power to tram cars have been removed and the tracks are being ripped off. It will take another 14 days to wrap up the dismantling work, which is being handled by the Railway Vikas Nigam Ltd,” a senior railway official said.

Once the tracks and the wires have been removed, the authorities will carry out a utility check to locate phone and power cables and water and sewer pipes before laying pillars for the Metro tracks.

“Unless the tram tracks are removed, the final design for the elevated tracks — which will cover 10km of the 16.72km link — can’t be prepared,” an official pointed out.

Last December, then transport minister Ranjit Kundu had refused to allow Metro work on the Joka-Behala stretch on the grounds that it would leave the tram tracks unusable for five years, the estimated duration of the project.

Another impasse in the project has been broken with the authorities identifying an alternative site for Joka station.

The plot where President Pratibha Patil had laid the foundation stone last year was later found to be private property.

“A new plot has been identified for the Joka terminal,” said an official.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110530/images/30zzjokabig.jpg

hmm...it seems Joka Metro is the topic of the day...here are pics to show that what actually the news reporters are reporting, for a change are true!!

Here the 1st pic, which shows that the tram's electric supply line has been snapped, what only stands now is the pole...this is near Behala Chowrasta!!

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/5451/image1477.jpg

the tram tracks are still untouched here!!...its sumwer near Thakurpukur..

http://img846.imageshack.us/img846/4756/image1480.jpg

Nowadays it is clearly shown that former state government was doing dirty politics for metro construction. New government is now very much smooth. Within the 10 days 2 lines has gain satisfactorily.

Line 3 –The loss making tram track between Behal & Joka was only waiting for closure. I wrote formerly, the Diamondharbour Road from Majherhat is now under NHAI, which was the main cause of closure of tram route 27, 35 & 37. If the metro line would not construct, then also tramline would be closed only for this reason. Former govt. only cried like a crocodile and washed people’s brain for fake excuses. However, only in 2 days, al hurdles were removed. Tram service has stopped now. Tramcars will be moved to main network by trainers within this month. Now the construction of metro line has started in full pace, and I hope the elevated stretch will be completed within 2013 from Joka to Majherhat. Joka metro depot will be construected near former tram terminus. Elevated stretch wil run parallel of Taratala flyover & former Majherhat Tram Bridge, and then after crossing the rail lines, it will get down underground and from Mominpur, it will run under the ground. Target is 2016.

Line 6 – Another obstruction was occurred by left. The hotchpotch metrobus (BRT) is now under construction from Ultodingi to New Garhia via E.M.Byepass, but line 6 wil also follow the route from Gour Kishor Ghosh (Chingrhighata) to Kabi Subhash. So they obstructed for building the line thinking loss making of metrobus. These hardles is also now removed. At first phase, metro wil be constructed from Kabi Subhash to Very Important Person’s Bazar within 2012. The construction has also started, target is also 2016.

Line 2 is now full pace, I often go via Phulbagan, and there underground tunneling is going smoothly. Large crains is doing the work.

http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/7434/majherhatmetrostationuc.jpg

Majherhat metro station is under construction. Look the green signboard carefully. Photograph quality is not good because I only have a cheap analog camera.

http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/5328/jokatramshifting.jpg

Trams are transferring to main network from now closed Joka terminus by trailers. Here the future metro depot will be constructed.

http://img194.imageshack.us/img194/677/jokaterminus.jpg

Joka terminus, on its heyday. This tram was designed like Melbourne’s B-class tram around 1997. It was the first tram which was decorated by tubelights and front glass. Now the front glass has destroyed and replaced by pity iron net. How unaesthetic workers of CTC!!

Photograph quality is not good because I only have a cheap analog camera.

Thanks for the photos. This is not a photography forum, so the quality of the photo should not be a problem.

:cheers:

T . How unaesthetic workers of CTC!![/CENTER]

Just like how unaesthetic most of the EMUS and MEMUS and DEMUS are.

TOI (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/Joka-Behala-tram-is-now-history/articleshow/8686772.cms)
Joka-Behala tram is now history

KOLKATA: The tram that plied along Diamond Harbour Road has rumbled into the history books, drawing the curtains on yet another icon of old-world Kolkata. This is the price the city has to pay to meet its growing transportation needs.

Barely had the overhead wires been removed when Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL) began work on the pilings for pillars that would hold up the viaduct along which metro trains will run between Joka and BBD Bag. According to Metro Railway officials, nearly 4km of the 6km route between Joka and Behala Bazaar has been cleared of tram tracks. Pillars that held up the overhead wires have been removed along 3km and handed to Calcutta Tramways Company. But what of the trams?

These heritage vehicles were left marooned as no tracks exist from the Behala tram depot to the rest of the city. The tramcars were dismantled, the carriages and undercarriages placed on separate truck-trailers and moved to CTC depots. By Tuesday evening, four of the six trams had been dismantled and mounted on trailers.

The Joka-BBD Bag stretch was the last tram route on DH Road. Ever since the Joka-BBD Bag metro was announced, the railways has been asking the state government to hand over the stretch to RVNL, which is the implementing agency. While the transport department agreed in principle, CTC continued to run trams on the route. Work on the metro came to a standstill.

After Mamata Banerjee became chief minister, one of the first steps that her government took was to hand over the stretch to RVNL.

"We hope to make up for the lost time and complete the stretch within schedule," an RVNL official said.

But will this herald the end of trams in Kolkata? In the last few years, several routes have closed down for various reasons. Experts say the city should retain this environment-friendly mode of public transport, at least in parts of the city where public transport is not up to standard.

"It was a sad moment for us but development must prevail. The new government should introduce trams in extended parts of the city like Salt Lake and Rajarhat," a CTC official said.

http://img101.imageshack.us/img101/5711/jokatramlineripping2011.jpg

Source:-Newz Bangla – Tram tracks is ripping for replacing this route to metro.

This photo makes me nostalgic. When I was 9 years old in 1986, this line opened for public. I heard about this extension of former Behala line first from my grandfather, who helped me much for TRAM ADDICTION by traveling me by tram around the city. Then I went to Joka with my parents first by tram in 30/12/86. There was only one route at first, i.e. 37. Later 2 routes opened towards Baliganj & Tollyganj. I still remember, the tram was fully packed up, for curiosity about this new line, because this line & Ultodingi line was the first new lines after independence. Till then, Diamond harbor Road was still under-developed, even no street lights were after Barhisha. After Barhisha, surroundings were village type, mostly after Thakurpukur. Large fields were both sides of the road. Road was dark & empty, and the Joka tram terminus was very empty. My mother was afraid about robbery. Still now Joka is under Panchayat.

The fair was 70 paise at first, highest among the entire network. The total journey time for 1 side was 75 minutes, which was also the longest, for total distance from Dharmatala was 13 Km. The terminus building was an old 8-wheeled tram car body, concept was also used previously in then Ultodingi terminus, Baliganj, and is still in a part of Dharmatala.

This line was the last extension of the network, inaugurated by then transport minister Rabin Mukhopadhyay. But he was over-emotional like me. He opened this line during pre-election code of conduct, and so suspended from his post. This was a great loss, because he was a blind tram-fan. During his reign, Ultodingi & Joka line opened, and tram service got very improvement like pre-seventies. Compare him with later hardcore anti-tram minister Shyamal Chakrabarti, who was almost decided to dismantle the entire network.

I last visited that line in 2002 by a direct tram route from Belgachhia to Joka. All direct tram services towards Dharmatala was closed after construction of Tartala flyover. The closure of remaining parts was only a waiting of time, which opened recently.

Thankfully, residents of Mominpur to Joka will soon get another electric-rail transport metro within 2016. It will be the best replacement of tram, for traveling pollution free.

By 2016, all 6 metro lines will be opened for public.

Or is it for the Museum??

YOU MAY BE RIGHT.

I’ve returned FOR THE ANSWER OF bandhu.

When most tram towns/cities have gradually improved more or less their tramway infrastructure, Kolkata is much behind of them.

All we know that it uses many backdated features, like trollypole, shutter-less doors, frontside net, shabby ugly looking iron-made destination board etc. etc. They are almost 50 years back in view of tram. Neglecting over years, many roots were closed, and they are increasing losses year by year.

Former transport minister Shri Shyamal Chakrabarty was almost decided to dismantle the network. Later minister late Subhash Chakrabarty was not so cruel, but he gave us a lot of hipocracy.

So in view of such type of backdated features & losses, it is ALMOST impossible to convert the network to a modern way. There were many ambitious plans like underground tram or elevated tram in past, but nothing materialized.

Initally the plan was to relaying tram tracks over the Taratala flyover, but then the road (from Majherhat towards Diamondharbour) was converted to NH, which not allows tram tracks. And now we are looking that due to lack of space, it creates problem to build elevated metro line in Taratala.

So combining these reasons, it was not possible to relaying tram tracks from Mominpur to Joka. The only solution is elevated rail transport, may be metro or others.

Tere were many plans –
1) First, a suburban elevated rail line from Majherhat to Thakurpukur.
2) Then, a light rail route from Joka to Barrackpur. (MD. SALIM’S ELECTION STUNT)
3) Finally, the metro route from Joka to Binay Badal Dinesh Bag.

I hope finally the metro will complete its construction.

UPDATES:-
1) From today, all types of 3 & 4 wheelers would be diversed from Kadaparha to Swabhumi due to digging of underground tunnel for line 2. It includes all buses, taxis, cars, lorries, auto-rickshaws etc.

2) Again from today, metro company has started issuing tokens only. Magnetic paper tickets have completely ended from today. Tockens are the best way of fare collection. But commuters PLEASE DON’T FORGET TO SUBMIT THOSE ON EXIT-TIME, AND DON’T COLLECT THOSE FOR YOUR HOME COLLECTION. SAVE OUR METRO.

After long 25 years we’re getting a new tram route, which will be 18. It will not be a physically new route, but a new numbering.

But keep in mind that this route is also not fully new. Almost 35 years ago, there was route 18. It was running between Park Circus and (now closed) Haorha Station terminus. The routeway was via present route 21. Route 21 was previously running via Rajib Gandhi Sarani & Hare Street. When both roads were closed for tram in 1995 (due to foolishly half-concretisation), route 21 along with route 30 diversed to the current way (i.e. via Mahatma Gandhi Road, Rabindra Sarani & Lalbazar Street) . However route 18 was closed many years before closure of Rajib Gandhi Sarani & Hare Street.

The new route 18 will start running from 1st August between Ultodingi & Haorha Bridge.

Tram Company is also planning to restart some closed routes. Who knows, one day they may be start running tram again on Bentinck Street, Hare Street, Rajib Gandhi Sarani, Maharshi Debendra Road etc.

NOTE:- The Bidhannagar tram terminus is said wrongly. The Place is actually Ultodingi (not Ultodanga, which is another common error). Bidhannagar is actually the official name of Saltlake. The adjuscent rail station’s name is Bidhannagar Road (formerly Ultodingi Road almost 30 years ago). This station named after adjuscent road, which was formerly Ultodingi Main Road (also 30 years ago). Collocully, Kolkatans deleted ROAD, and started saying Bidhannagar to this place. But this is absolutely wrong. The place is ULTODINGI, Bidhannagar is Saltlake. So we should say Ultodongi tram terminus.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1404966

This international thread was created by me. All can post as much as possible about Kolkata’s tram & metro, for informing the world about our great systems, and for improving & surviving. THIS IS A GREAT CHANCE.

i've no way but write this long post dividing in 2 parts.

]On last post I wrote that I’m very happy for opening new tram route 18, but it was vanished like camphor, when On 1st August 2011, I went to B.B.D Bag for some work. At the time of returning to my home at Rajabazar, I saw not a single tram is going towards Boubazar. Being confused, I went to the office of tram terminus, and saw a notice, which informs us that – DUE TO SMOOTHER TRANSPORTATION, KOLKATA POLICE HAS EXPERIMENTALLY STOPPED ALL TRAM SERVICE FROM B.B.D BAG TO MIRZAPUR VIA BOWBAZAR STREET & AMHERST STREET. As a result, tram route 2, 6, 14 & 16 has starting diversion via Dharmatala & Moula Ali.

Reading this notice, most daily passengers including me was very much shocked, because-
1) The said route i.e. B.B.D Bag – Lalbazar – Boubazar – Lebutala – Shraddhananda Park – Mirzapur route is the most popular tram route of Kolkata. Many passengers use this route for returning from B.B.D Bag towards Sealdah Station. Almost half of them get down at Lebutala to walking towards Sealdah via Kole Market Area. Rest of them gets down Near Jagat Cinema at Mirzapur for the same reason. Beside them many people, living near B.B.Ganguly Street & R.R.M.Roy Sarani use this route very much, because this is only served by tram. Due to this reason, trams are crowded very much especially after 4 p.m.
2) Not only office goers & businessmen, but also in early morning/noon, school students also prefer this route by tram. Tram is ideal for children, women & senior citizens, who cannot travel in a rough packed up bus.
3) Tram is very much comfortable & breezy than bus. It is also a totally pollution free transportation. Running tram decreases air-pollution, particularly in such a polluted city like Kolkata.
4) I read on some newspapers that Honorable Transport Minister told to CTC to stand on their own foot. WB Govt will stop all loss-filling step by step. So they must try hard to raise their revenue. But how it will be possible by closing such REALLY PROFITABLE tram routes?

As a result, I saw in my own eye that most people don’t like to go towards Sealdah diverting via Dharmatala & Moula Ali by tram. It will be much time consuming, so they are forcefully switching to bus. People use the original route because of less time consuming. Why they will go via Dharmatala & Moula Ali by tram? They will reach at Sealdah much faster by bus via Maharan Pratap Sarani, College Street & Surya Sen Street.

So it is clear that INTENTIONALLY police (and government) is trying to rising loss of CTC. As a result, people will have no way other than forcefully transforming to bus, which will result us a very painful, fierce & polluted daily journey.

As they are saying that downstream tram is causing traffic jam in B.B. Ganguly Street, it is absolutely wrong. Both side of the street is full of illegal parking. If they remove those cars, the street will be wider, and other vehicles could move much easier.

If they really strong about traffic jam, I suggest that tram maybe stopped between 9 A.M. to 4 P.M, but before & after that tram running will not create any problem. Before 9 A.M. traffic flow is lower than office time, which mainly includes some morning schools. After 4 P.M. most vehicles goes towards Sealdah, not towards B.B.D Bag. Automobiles use Maharan Pratap Sarani, College Street & Surya Sen Street, so tram running will not be in trouble. Most people avoid bus for unhealthy journey, and choose tram for eco-friend, breezy & quicke journey. A bus will move slowly in comparison of tram from B.B.D Bag to Shraddhananda Park due to dense traffic jam throughout Maharana Pratap Sarani.

I was no way than returning home by tram. My co-passenger had already started sending protest message to FACEBOOK.

Kolkata has only 6.5% road, and heavily populated city. As a result transportation is creating many problems. Rapidly increasing number of automobiles are increasing pollution rapidly.

The only solution is electric rail transport including (metro, monorail, light-rail & tram). It is followed worldwide. They are completely eco-friendly, long-term profitable, disciplined & passenger friendly.

We don’t know why light rail & monorail projects have cancelled, despite their laying of foundation stone. We have metro, but it is only in one route through 3.5 decades, which serves only a single part of our city. After many decades, this line is extending with five other routes, but only two of them will solve the city centre’s traffic problem (Line 2 & 3). Other lines will serve far areas like Barrackpur, Barasat, Jyotinagar, so main traffic problems of main city will not solve so much.

We have tram, which once blanketed our city. Bandhaghat, Shibpur, Nimtala, High court, Joka routes has closed for some fake reasons. Due to KMRC work, KMC work, many routes like Bagbazar, Park circus, Baliganj, Tollyganj are halted, and at last the most profitable route is now stopped from B.B.D Bag to Purabi Cinema, which will increase more air-pollution of Kolkata.

In Kolkata, private bus authorities often calls strikes for various reasons, and due to lack of sufficient govt. buses, we passengers get strange condition. We haven’t city wide metro like Hong Kong, Shanghai etc., and closure of tram lines creates very dangerous situation. Those who closes tram-lines, are not thinking the problems of common-people, because they are uncommon. Just think, if we have a dense network of tram & metro, who cares about the frequent bus strikes?

We can’t stop price rising of petroleum, and as a result bus/taxi fare, but price rise of electricity is much lower, so tram & metro fare will be cheaper than bus.

Transport Minister is saying that govt. will stop helping CTC & others in future, and they should increase earning, but how it will be possible? Closure of such profitable route will decrease earning, so increasing loss, so CTC will be more poor, and at last the loss of KOLKATANs.

Kolkata has much less empty & green space. So if air-pollution will increase on such pace, where will we go? How will be our future generation?

New government is trying to make Kolkata like London, but do they know that London has a dense 420 Km. metro network with a feeder tram network? Most European & other cities has returned or are returning tram, like BUENOS AIRES, MADRID, WASHINGTON, PARIS, TUNIS, ALGIERS, SYDNEY, ISTANBUL, SHANGHAI, TIANJIN, LONDON are few of them. They are returning them as a massive error correction, but why we will do the same error as they do 50 years before?

My proposal is, at first create a dense metro network like London etc. then do these eccentric decisions like closures 7 curtailing of tram routes.

I know most forumers will tease me. I don’t care. IF IT IS WRONG TO SEE DREAM OF A CLEAN, GREAN, and HEALTHY KOLKATA AS A 34 YEAR OLD KOLKATAN, I WILL DO THIS WRONG THINGS OVER AND OVER.

I hope all reader will realize the danger. Please, please start protesting from now. I’ve already conversed with CTC today.
Here is the link - http://www.calcuttatramways.com/comments.htm#9
Their e-mail address:- E-mail : tramways@cal3.vsnl.net.in

I’ll send this protest letter to all newspapers and all TV channels, I’ll also send paper-letter & fax to them. I’ll phone them.
If the solution will not be solved, I’ll write to Kolkata Police, to Transport Minister, to Chief Minister. I’ll talk with Mayor & KMC. I’ll go to the last as far as I can. I expect many forumers will agree with me, it will get best result if we protest jointly. I’m not afraid if I’ll be in jail.

Friends, please think our past. How Kolkata was clean & green. Don’t you want to be proud as a Kolkatan? So why you’re getting late? Go down to FACEBOOK, ORKUT, and TWITTER etc. Make aware as much as you can to your neighbors and others. I’VE NO ACCOUNTS ON THOSE SITES.

Best of luck to all. Hope you’ll support me.

Ashis Mitra, age 34, location – Rajabazar / Krishnapur.

Ashish kudos to you. Tagore once said something to the effect of "go alone if no one is willing to go with you". Please take it as an inspiration. Transport always needs to be multi-modal-bus+metro+monorail+tram+autos+taxis+cycle tracks+integrated urban planning that sees public transport as the core of urban growth. Unfortunately, if urban planning and transport are not integrated, then transport needs can never be met.

@Ashis Mitra: You need to cool your head a little bit. You're just 34, they say life starts at 40..

I read what you wrote, though personally I wonder how many people actually use trams now. You probably mentioned that the "most profitable" route was also closed down. This explains the need for their closure - they are hardly profitable!

In today's fast life, trams have no place. I mean if you do some brisk walking a tram would probably have a hard time keeping up with you. Trams are part of our heritage, that's why they should be there. They should be there to relax and tour the city, not to act as a support system to the metro.

You wont be in jail unless you do a "Tram Satyagraha" or a "Tram March". As a citizen, you definitely have the right to demand for something! But then, "improper" means might get you into trouble, much like Baba Tramdev oops Ramdev..

I feel tram won't make our city green, it will only end up making lanes narrower and cause more chaos bcoz trams ply right on the road, where cars & buses fight to death for space. What would really solve our problems are more metro routes, more coaches per metro, articulated buses, and finally, a compulsory-CNG rule like Delhi.

Trams can actually be quite fast. There is a reason trams (or streetcars as they are called) have made a comeback in several north american cities and many european cities are expanding their use. However, there is a specific use case for them. In mixed-traffic conditions, they have severe constraints (e.g cow on track, handcarts etc.) and that derails their effectiveness. In right areas where transit demand is in between bus & metro, trams are the right answer to provide public transit.

So, if they are closing tram lines down, hopefully they are replacing it with adequate levels of other transit (e.g. bus) or expanded metro. If they are not doing that and not choosing to upgrade the trams, then it is a bad decision

Hope you’ll support me.[/SIZE]



Ashis, I read your posts about Kolkata trams with interest.

I had used trams regularly for six years in Kolkata and I enjoyed the leisurely pace (was a student at that time). The city despite its shoddiness looked so charming through the wide open windows. The fan breeze was a bonus. There were problems of course occassionally. So I think I understand the sentimental attachment to trams.

Recently in Zurich I rode a lot of trams and it was fun. They are of course more modern and they have an excellent public transportation system.

The whole transportation system in Kolkata needs an overhaul - from proper traffic management, well trained honest and strict cops (not corrupt), citizens who obey traffic rules and do not try to bribe their way out of traffic violation charges or indulge in name dropping (Janish ami ke? Dada ke chinish?). And good quality roads. A lot of the traffic problems of today will disappear. That could take away some of the issues of low road space and trams can share the road too with other vehicles.

I read in the newspapers that the govt has some ideas like running ac trams for tourists, also run restaurant trams (this is a good idea) as the tram takes you around Kolkata. Basically value added stuff like this has to be done to increase revenues. In this season of committees and white papers, why not appoint a "committee" with "intellectuals" to look into the tram issue?

It is good that you are doing something for a cause you care for. So best of luck.

If tram have a dedicated line and space it could be a high speed transport. In my college days tram service between Ballygunge and Park Circus/ Kalighat, Moidan / Alipour area were really fast and people used to enjoy them. But now these tram lines are concretized. As a result more Amby and Maruti run on these space than tram. There are high speed tram connection in Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Hydelburg but nowhere tram line interferes with city car traffic. Bottom line is days of tram cars in Kolkata are numbered!

If tram have a dedicated line and space it could be a high speed transport. In my college days tram service between Ballygunge and Park Circus/ Kalighat, Moidan / Alipour area were really fast and people used to enjoy them. But now these tram lines are concretized. As a result more Amby and Maruti run on these space than tram. There are high speed tram connection in Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Hydelburg but nowhere tram line interferes with city car traffic. Bottom line is days of tram cars in Kolkata are numbered!

I also agree to this. Before concretization of tram tracks, there used to be a lot of people who used trams. I think the people who are talking against trams haven't really rode one .... they just travel by bus, and they think the trams are coming on their way. I stay in Behala, and I can vouch that a lot of people used to travel between Joka, and Behala before they removed the lines for Metro construction. In fact, since the tram tracks between Joka and behala were dedicated lanes, travelling by TRAM WAS FASTER than by bus/auto. Only the number of service was less, and occupancy was less, since communication to office areas (read BBDBag) wasn't possible (trams ended at Behala) - not because they ran slow, but because commuters would have to switch to another bus at behala to reach BBDBag, which was cumbersome.

I'm sure since the concretization is mostly complete, if the Govt re-indroduces the tram services, there'd be a lot of adoption, and sceptics would not be put to rest.

What Kolkata needs to have is a single agency to run all Government bus/tram/metro services, so that changing the communication media does not raise journey fare.

I read somewhere about integration of transport media in future, so its definitely on the cards. I believe it would only be between the metro & public bus routes.

Also, new fast trams from companies like Siemens or Bambardier should be procured and trams must be run through dedicated lanes.

We don't even have Bombardier metro rakes, forget trams :lol:
There's hardly any space left for dedicated tram lines IMO.

Strangely, the erstwhile communist government took the American way by privatizing the buses and creating various companies/modes of communication. As a result everything fell apart.

Because of privatisation, we have a better-knit city. For eg, hundreds of buses run through Ruby Golpark, and not even 50% of them are public buses.
Privatisation gives choices and destroys monopoly. Railways & Defence sectors need to be privatised now.

Guys..............This is Kolkata metro thread, but I think we discuss everything here except Kolkata metro................................

UNTIL BANGALIS COULD NOT INTEGRATE IDEAS OF TRAM & METRO AT THE SAME TIME, KOLKATA WILL NOT BE AN LIVE & GREEN CITY.

FORGET ABOUT MAKING LONDON, LONDON SHOULD BE COMPARED WITH DELHI.

KOLKATA SHOULD BE COMPARED WITH SAPPORO, HONGKONG, TORONTO, ROTTERDAM, RIO DE JANEIRO, KHARKIV, MILANO, LILLE, MUNICH, BARCELONA & KAZAN, for how to blanketing the city by a proper metro & tram network, and ruducing number of automobiles including bus.

I'll return soon for some more message. I've planned to go some newspaper's office & will send some letters to them. I'll also xontact with TV channels.

visit this websites for some great idea about urgban rail transport.
1) www.subways.net
2) www.urbanrail.net
3) www.lrta.org

UPDATE:-
Due to high cost, Chandigarh is now thinking replace its metro plan by tram.

Trams can actually be quite fast. There is a reason trams (or streetcars as they are called) have made a comeback in several north american cities and many european cities are expanding their use. However, there is a specific use case for them. In mixed-traffic conditions, they have severe constraints (e.g cow on track, handcarts etc.) and that derails their effectiveness. In right areas where transit demand is in between bus & metro, trams are the right answer to provide public transit.

So, if they are closing tram lines down, hopefully they are replacing it with adequate levels of other transit (e.g. bus) or expanded metro. If they are not doing that and not choosing to upgrade the trams, then it is a bad decision

Expanding metro like Shanghai is very much costly. How Kolkata can do that? Kolkata even expanding metro mainly towards outside, but it will not solve our city centre traffic solution.

Opening of metro line 2 is planned on 2014, till then, tram service on Bowbazar Street towards Sealdah must be improved.

I am not too sure as I did not visit the area since long. The pics were taken from Greenfield City's website. They keep updating their website with pics showing the progress of the Joka - BBD Bag Metro!

The metro is coming up on the dedicated tram corridor. I am told that the tram lines would be relaid and tram services would resume on completion of the metro construction. However, I personally do not see any business need.

In this case, I think tram must not returned between Mominpur & Joka, because of substituing by metro. But running tram from Wattganj to Baliganj & Tollyganj must be started soon.

I have no idea about the Tram scene, friend. I believe trams should be completely removed from the roads and taken above. elevated tram tracks along the medians would be a great idea, as people who are feeling lazy and want to just sit and observe the city's landscape, architecture and fast life can do so without sitting in an unwanted disturbance in the middle of the road. trams are worse than autos, but we dont feel so as they are fewer in numbers.

maidan area would be an excellent place to start a pilot project of elevated tram, it would promote tourism and bring in the moolahs, as the maidan area is home to the majestic british history of kolkata.

tram as a mode of transport is clearly not making sense among the people now. it needs to be marketed smartly, otherwise we are facing at erasing a large chunk of history from the city streets forever.

In world, Istanbul returned tram after 3 dacades in 1992, and opened metro in 2000.
Shanghai & Tianjin returned rubber-tired tram around 2007 on outer side as a feeder service with metro, which opened in nineties.

Chandigarh is replacing its plan of metro by tram.

Do all they are foolish? and we are the most clever, so destroying our city?

@Ashis Mitra: You need to cool your head a little bit. You're just 34, they say life starts at 40..

I read what you wrote, though personally I wonder how many people actually use trams now. You probably mentioned that the "most profitable" route was also closed down. This explains the need for their closure - they are hardly profitable!

In today's fast life, trams have no place. I mean if you do some brisk walking a tram would probably have a hard time keeping up with you. Trams are part of our heritage, that's why they should be there. They should be there to relax and tour the city, not to act as a support system to the metro.

You wont be in jail unless you do a "Tram Satyagraha" or a "Tram March". As a citizen, you definitely have the right to demand for something! But then, "improper" means might get you into trouble, much like Baba Tramdev oops Ramdev..

I feel tram won't make our city green, it will only end up making lanes narrower and cause more chaos bcoz trams ply right on the road, where cars & buses fight to death for space. What would really solve our problems are more metro routes, more coaches per metro, articulated buses, and finally, a compulsory-CNG rule like Delhi.

I thought I must answer to you.

Yes, it is true that many people don’t use tram, but also many people use it. If you go to Dharmatala / Binay-Badal-Dinesh Bag on any working day, you could see that many passengers are waiting for tram especially returning towards Shialdaha. Haorha Bridge route is also popular, mainly for businessmen & workers of Barhabazar. Side by side trams are very popular especially on one way roads, i.e. College Street, Lenin Sarani etc. Some routes where bus service is inadequate like Elliot Road, Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road trams are often highly crowded. Some green routes like Duffrin Road are also popular because of breezy alignment. Hence some routes are closed, and there are many bus routes around the city, tram has lost many passengers, and stolen by bus. Many passengers also switched to metro as an eco-friendly rapid replacement, tram also lost passengers. But still now there are many regular passengers of tramway.

In past many really profitable routes are closed, like Haorha Station, Bentinck Street, Nimtala, High court etc. There were many (fake) causes, like flyover, road-repairing, traffic-jam etc. Former transport minister Mr. Shyamal Chakrabarty almost decided to dismantle the network. During shameless party-lobbying, CTC was neglected through many years especially in early nineties. As I told before, closure of many profitable routes actually gave advantages to bus industries, which were also mainly supported my CITU. I’ll be not wondered if bus industries also gave pressure to halting tram service from BBD Bag to Purabi, due to stealing of bus passengers??!! So this route was really profitable. You probably wrote that because you haven’t commuted through route 14 almost daily like me.

In many cities around the world, like VIENNA, MINSK, BRUSSELS, RIO DE JANEIRO, SOFIA, TORONTO, DALIAN, HONGKONG, PRAGUE, HELSINKI, MARSELLIE, BERLIN, MUNICH, NUREMBERG, BUDAPEST, MILAN, NAPLES, ROME, SAPPORO, TOKYO, MEXICO CITY, AMSTERDAM, ROTTERDAM, OSLO, WARSAW, LISBON, BUCHAREST, CHELYABINSK, KAZAN, KRASNOYARK, MOSCOW, NIZHNI-NOVGOROD, NOVOSIBIRSK, SAINT PETERSBERG, YEKATERINBURG, BARCELONA, STOCKHOLM, DNIPROPETROVSK, KHARKIV, KIEV, PHILADELPHIA, SANFRANSISCO, TASHKENT etc. is running tram continuously over hundred year. All these cities also have metro. Both systems are integrated, and peoples easily switch from one to another. You know that all these cities are much advanced, rich and fast than KOLKATA, but they didn’t closed tram network, or fully replaced by metro.

Some cities like BUENOS AIRES, SHANGHAI, TIANJIN, LYON, PARIS, ATHENS, PYONGYANG, BILBAO, MADRID, VALENCIA, LAUSANNE, ISTANBUL, LONDON etc. once have a good tram network, but they closed foolishly during sixties for thinking that metro will solve all problems, but despite all these cities has a good metro network, they again returned tram after late eighties, and now tram of these cities are acting as a feeder service of metro. You also know that all these cities are also much advanced, rich and fast than KOLKATA, but they have returned tram, despite they have sufficient metro.

Beside those cities, some cities like ALGIERS, BRASILIA, HAMBURG, DELHI, MUMBAI, ALMATY, DUBAI etc. which once closed their network, or earlier only had metro, they are constructing or planning new tramway network. You also know that all these cities are also much advanced, rich and fast than KOLKATA, but they are returning tram, because they are not satisfied with metro.

All these cities are returning and continuing of tram is mainly for a low-cost eco-friendly mass transport. They are making those cities clean, green, smart, and civilized. Metro is much costlier, although I’m not against metro. Kolkata is still poor city comparing with other Indian cities. We can’t create much metro lines like Shanghai very quickly, but we can only do that step by step. It will be a time & cost consuming matter, till then we can easily improve our 125+ years tram network, by simply following the transport plan of those cities I wrote above.

Narrow roads are ideal for tram, cycle & walker. We should stop in-fact running buses on these roads, and must increase high headway of tram service. Here are some photos of narrow street serving by tram in Rio de Janeiro & Istanbul.

We must reduce number of buses & private cars to control the pollution. Articulated bus is another automobile which will create more pollution, like BRT. Using of CNG is also much costly, because it could come here only by laying a very long pipeline from Asansol. CNG will be suitable for Asansol, but not for Kolkata, because of high cost.

If we really solve our transport problem, we should need more central city serving metro routes, rather than serving outside areas.

I’LL BE PROUD IF YOU CALL ME BABA TRAMDEV.

Ashis, I read your posts about Kolkata trams with interest.

I had used trams regularly for six years in Kolkata and I enjoyed the leisurely pace (was a student at that time). The city despite its shoddiness looked so charming through the wide open windows. The fan breeze was a bonus. There were problems of course occassionally. So I think I understand the sentimental attachment to trams.

Recently in Zurich I rode a lot of trams and it was fun. They are of course more modern and they have an excellent public transportation system.

The whole transportation system in Kolkata needs an overhaul - from proper traffic management, well trained honest and strict cops (not corrupt), citizens who obey traffic rules and do not try to bribe their way out of traffic violation charges or indulge in name dropping (Janish ami ke? Dada ke chinish?). And good quality roads. A lot of the traffic problems of today will disappear. That could take away some of the issues of low road space and trams can share the road too with other vehicles.

I read in the newspapers that the govt has some ideas like running ac trams for tourists, also run restaurant trams (this is a good idea) as the tram takes you around Kolkata. Basically value added stuff like this has to be done to increase revenues. In this season of committees and white papers, why not appoint a "committee" with "intellectuals" to look into the tram issue?

It is good that you are doing something for a cause you care for. So best of luck.

Suncity, I still haven’t see the tramway systems of Switzerland including Zurich, I hope I’ll do that in future. But till now I’ve seen all tram & metro systems of Africa, Oceania, South America, Asia, Mexico & part of Europe. In a gist it is clear that despite massive closure of tram during fifties to seventies, trams started returning from mid eighties worldwide.

You’re absolutely right about writing the solutions of transport & traffic problems of Kolkata, and you’re really suggestive about their solution. I’m also partially agreed of future thinking about introduction of AC trams/restaurant trams. I think new government is sharing these ideas from Melbourne, where tram network is the largest among southern hemisphere (245 Km.), and they also run AC/restaurant trams.

Your last suggestion is brilliant. Yes, like rail committee, our new government can also create a new committee about ‘Transportation Development of Kolkata’. I think it will be a great step.

I’ve already e-mailed to all newspapers. In last Tuesday, I’ve dropped letters to ANANDABAZAR, AJKAL, BARTAMAN, PRATIDIN, STATESMAN, PRATYAHIK KHABAR & SAKALBELA, among these, PRATYAHIK KHABAR has already published my letter in their daily newspaper on Thursday. Others may be published later, if they wish.

In next week, I’ll contact with all Bangla news channels about this subject, for making a strong report. I’ll inform all what I will do next.

I’M CERTAINLY NOT AGAINST METRO, BUT METRO IS COSTLY. UNTILL WE CAN’T MAKE STRONG METRO NETWORK LIKE SHANGHAI, WE CAN IMPROVE OUR EXISTING TRAM NETWORK, WITH NOT VERY MUCH COST.

If tram have a dedicated line and space it could be a high speed transport. In my college days tram service between Ballygunge and Park Circus/ Kalighat, Moidan / Alipour area were really fast and people used to enjoy them. But now these tram lines are concretized. As a result more Amby and Maruti run on these space than tram. There are high speed tram connection in Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Hydelburg but nowhere tram line interferes with city car traffic. Bottom line is days of tram cars in Kolkata are numbered!

Sabya99, there should be some clarification between tram & light rail.

The main difference is that tram is mostly street running with unreserved track, with partly reserved track. Stops are also on street (Like College Street, M.G.Road etc.), so lower speed. Whereas light rail is almost on reserved track, like metro or train, with very little street running. Stops are on separate platformed stations (a small version of rail station). Due to almost fully segregated running, they got higher speed.

Please also keep in mind that in Canada & USA, trams are called streetcars, and cable-cars (ropeways) are called trams. In China, metro lines on surface/elevated called light rail because they understand that light rail means a rail running under (Sun/street) light !!!.

Like Switzerland, still I haven’t saw tram systems of Holland & Germany, but I heard that Amsterdam, Frankfurt & Heidelberg all are running trams since 19th Century and all are very much advanced.

Whereas new tram systems around the world like TUNIS, SYDNEY, BUENOS AIRES, PYONGYANG, ESKISEHIR, KAYSERI, SAMSUN, ISTANBUL etc. are opening tram lines as much as on reserved track with platforms, Kolkata is going on opposite direction to de-reserving tram tracks with concrete. Concreting is very ideal in narrow streets like R.G. Kar Road, Bidhan Sarani, Arabinda Sarani, College Street, Mahatma Gandhi Road, B.B. Ganguly Street, Surya Sen Street, R.R.M. Roy Sarani, Lenin Sarani, Elliot Road, Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road, Mother Teresa Sarani, Rabindra Sarani, Hemanta Basu Sarani, B.G.Ghosh Sarani, Judge Court Road etc. i.e. mainly in North & Central Kolkata. In-fact after concreting of tram tracks on these roads, roads have also developed very much. But broad streets like A.P.C. Roy Road, Satin Sen Sarani, A.S.N. Basu Sarani, A.J.C. Basu Road, S.A.Ali Avenue, Ras Bihari Avenue, S.P.Mukhopadhyay Road, Deshapran Shasmal Road, Diamond Harbour Road, Karl Marx Sarani etc. i.e. mainly in South Kolkata got very dangerous tram riding. All these streets have lost their reserved tracks, where getting up & down from tram was very comfortable on stops. Now there are no reservations, you could go to catch a running tram by crossing fast moving automobile road, taking your life on your hand. The same situation happens when you’re getting down from a tram on middle of a broad, very busy road.

We all should apply to authority to introducing tram stops with platform & shed, like KMC is now doing in memory of 150th Birth Anniversary of Bishwakabi.

Only a high headway of tram running on wide roads could demand of returning reserved track of tramway. If we really love our city, we should demand it from our government.

Here are some photos of reserved track trams in Istanbul, & Shanghai, Tianjin:-

http://img55.imageshack.us/img55/9443/13yr5.jpg

Istanbuls tram on reserved track narrow street

http://img55.imageshack.us/img55/3760/38958186tu8.jpg

Istanbul's tram on narrow street with platform

There are fasttram services in many great cities of the world that partially run on train tracks and serve as streetcars for the rest of their routes just like Kolkata trams do. For example, Amsterdam Metro #51 is actually a sneltram. It runs on metro track from Amsterdam Centraal station using 3rd rail power supply. After Amsterdam Zuid (south) it raises pantograph, switches to tramline and shares route with other trams.

Similar integration of Train-Metro-Tram is visible mostly in Europe with Standard Gauge used for all modes of rail transport. It is also possible to inter operate using same ticket.

In US, tramways are called as light rails and there is no integration between different transport media. In New York, local trains are run by MTA (various railroad companies within like Metro North, LIRR etc) and NJTransit. Subway is run by MTA with a separate ticketing system. PATH train is an autonomous entity. Again, light rails are mostly scattered across NJ territory, owned by NJTransit. Each agency has its own ticketing system. Metrocards (Smart cards) are used to pay for Subway, PATH and MTA buses. But PATH over charges Metrocards. It is confusing to commute on different modes of transportation in New York unless one has the smart cards of each railway company he avails. And hence, a single ticket concept does not exist in New York, while this facility has always been available in Paris, Berlin or Amsterdam.

What Kolkata needs to have is a single agency to run all Government bus/tram/metro services, so that changing the communication media does not raise journey fare. Also, new fast trams from companies like Siemens or Bambardier should be procured and trams must be run through dedicated lanes.

Strangely, the erstwhile communist government took the American way by privatizing the buses and creating various companies/modes of communication. As a result everything fell apart.

Anamitra (your name partly resembles with my title), as I told before, I still not seen most European tram systems, but I heard that there are many cities around the world especially in Germany are running/making tram-cum-train. This is a hybrid vehicle. This transport uses same stock on mainline railway & tramway, without a single stopping/jerking or any difficulties. It is also called dual-mode transport. If first started in KARLSRUHE in 1991 and now some cities are running such type of vehicle. Some of them are PARIS, CHEMINTZ, HEILBRONN, SAARBRUCKEN, TOYAMA, etc.

Some cities like HASSELT, LIBEREC, MULHOUSE, NANTES, STRASSBOURG, BRAUNSHWEIG, GOUDA, CADIZ etc. are constructing such type of system.

There is a correction for you. New York has both metro & light metro. Light metro is named there as Air train. PATH is a suburban metro system which connects with suburb New Jersey.

In USA, tramways are not called light-rails. They are called as streetcars. Light rail is more advanced than many modern reintroduced tram systems in USA & world. Light rail is almost on reserved track, like metro or train, with very little street running. Stops are on separate platformed stations (a small version of rail station). Due to almost fully segregated running, they got higher speed, whereas modern trams sometimes/partly run on unreserved track/street level.
Buenos Aires & Istanbul has both modern tram & light rail.

Also note that in Canada & USA, metro is called subway. New York has a very large network of metro. It is not possible easily for Kolkata to build such type of vast network. Till then we must reduce bus & improve tram.

The single ticketing system with single transport authority is very good idea, but countries like India will hardly accept it. India is still much poor & illiterate country, where competition is often brutal. Where many cities around the world had introduced same ticketing in bus, tram, metro, train & ferry, even advanced cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru & Jaipur hasn’t started it. It is very hard to starting it in Kolkata, but if it could, it will be very nice.

Advanced rolling stocks of tram are also very hard. Kolkata Tram Company has refurbished some old trams with new aero-dynamic bodies, CFLs, LED destination boards, front glass, improved bodies & seats & fans, etc. as a cheap replacement of old trams rather than importing. But you can see that those trams are also started battering. Our citizens are very much uncultured, also traffic systems are really very bad. Almost every day chaos is creating regarding metro-token. So it is hurt to listing but true that trams from companies like Siemens or Bombardier is very tough for running in Kolkata streets.

We have two solutions:-
1) We should construct many metro lines in old city area (from Shyambazar to Kalighat, from Beleghata to Barhabazar & also on Haorha side, and decrease number of buses almost half by this metro constructing. We should also keep some tram routes like Belgachhia, Shyambazar, Rajabazar, Moulali, Mallikbazar, Parkcircus, Garhiahat, Tollyganj, Kalighat, Kyderpur & Dharmatala, but rest of network could be closed if appropriately replacement by strong metro network.
2) We should construct tram lines in outer areas like Dakshineshwar, Agarparha, Palta, Birati, Barasat, Garhia, Champahati, Baruipur, Bracebridge, Bajbaj etc. like a feeder service of metro, same like BUENOS AIRES, SHANGHAI, TIANJIN, TOKYO & MEXICO CITY.

Besides that reopening the plans of light-rail & monorail could also be done from Shyambazar to Baranagar & from Taratala to Bajbaj as a feeder service.

@Ashis Mitra: Got your points, they are true. Thanks :)
Baba Tramdev was a wordplay on Ramdev, not directed at you :)

We need a combination of both metro and tram. Kokata without trams will be like a bird without wings... but yes... we need modern trams...

Yes, thats the point I want to clarify. Most improved cities around the world has a strong network of both tram & metro,and other modes also.

e.g. - ISTANBUL has 2 metro lines, 3 different tram lines, 2 light-rail lines and 2 different funicular lines.
SHANGHAI has 13 metro lines, probably the most dense in China, within 16 years, and a rubber-tired 1 line tram system in outer area Zhangjiang.
HONGKONG has 10 metro lines, (some has converted from suburban rail lines), 6 tram lines & 6 light-rail lines.
SAPPORO has 3 rubber-tired metro lines, and 4 tram lines.

In this week, I will try to contact some TV channels about this matter.

Update:-
All hurdles of Joka metro depot (carshed) has solved. It will be constructed at Rasapunja, some distance away from former tram terminus. I want eagerly to start construction of line 3, because it will be a very important line. Has the problem regarding alignment on Taratala due to flyover solved?

Line 2 is also constructing successfully. I recently saw some underground work near Poddar Court, on Rabindra Sarani. Also some large cranes & drilling machines is now working at Phulbagan, on Moulana Abul Kalam Azad Sarani. Both line 2 & 3 will be very important.

Some missing links should be filled by metro. By not extending metro towards outside areas, it should be more constructed in old city area. A metro line from Taratala to Hemanta Mukhopadhyay via Kalighat & Baliganj will be very important link as an east-west direction.

In north there could be another metro link from Kazi Nazrul Islam Aveneu (Haldiram) to Shobhabazar-Sutanuti & Phulbagan via Baguihati & Ultodingi is also urgently needed for serving towards east Kolkata.

It could also be good if a metro line be constructed from Kabi Nazrul to Garhiahat.

TOI (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata-/Joka-Behala-tram-is-now-history/articleshow/8686772.cms)
Joka-Behala tram is now history

"It was a sad moment for us but development must prevail. The new government should introduce trams in extended parts of the city like Salt Lake and Rajarhat," a CTC official said.

It will be a very nice decision if new government could introduce tramway service in Bidhannagar & Jyotinagar. They are much planned with wide routes & avenues, where tram could run smoothly. Both townships are getting metro,. If they could also get tram, it will be ideal feeder service like Shanghai & Tianjin.

the problem with tramways in kolkata is the lack of roads, kolkata has a very low amount of roads by surface area, tramlines eat into that causing problems for road traffic and are themselves not able to function to potential in terms of speed and frequency because other vehicles cut into their space. unless you have a solution for increasing road area in the city I do not see how trams would be viable.
take the tramlines in behala area, they take up (used to, before the demolition) 50% of the road area which could have been used to create 2 more lanes but transported barely 1% of passengers compared to that transported by road ?

I agreed, but is it not true that from Shyambazar to Kalighat & from Beleghata to Barhabazar, the traffic condition is terribly bad? and very much air-pollution? We must decrease number of automobiles in this area, and replace them partly by more metro & tram routes. same problem there, lack of roads to support the population density. there is no short term solution unless govt changes the asinine rent control policies by which people pay Rs 10 as rent for rooms in the heart of the city.
in the long term hopefully people would start moving out to the suburbs allowing the administration to remodel those areas of the city.

We can reduce number of automobiles for decreasing pollution, by replacing them bit by bit tram & metro. We must control number of buses.

Tram don't cause jam, but jam stops tram. Due to this logic, tram is returning worldwide.

Some updates: -

METRO:-
500 trees should be cut down for line 3 between Kyderpur & Binay Badal Dinesh Bag!!! It really sounds horrible!!! Why so much deforestation? Metro will go underground between this stretch, and today tunneling is done by bored tunnel system, not cut’n cover system like line 1, so effects on surface is almost negligible. Authority must be careful. Today pollution is a very serious matter, and most world cities including many Indian cities are aware about that, and they are trying new plantation as much as possible, there Kolkata, which is much polluted at present due to less road space and uncontrolled increasing of automobiles, is lessing trees??? PLEASE TRY TO ALIGN METRO-LINE BY CUTTING TREES AS LESS AS POSSIBLE.

TRAM:-
From 1st April, there will be no 2nd class in all tramcar. Both compartments will be uni-class, with fans on both compartments. It is much delayed comparing with other cities of the world, but better let than never. Although new tramcars have already such system (I mean fiber-glass body tramcars), but in near future, all trams will get that uni-class system. However, the present fans on old cars are old-fashioned bigger DC fans, where new fans will be smaller AC fans.
But fares may hike after long years; it may be Rs. 5 & 6 on two stages in place of Rs. 4 (3.5) and 4.5 (4) current rate. I think it will not be practical, because it will less attract passengers, in comparison of bus, train & metro.

The star ananda report on mamata banerjee writing letters to finance, defence and shipping ministries to solve some problems related to joka-bbdbag metro

WUM_fk7BhO8

The star ananda report on mamata banerjee writing letters to finance, defence and shipping ministries to solve some problems related to joka-bbdbag metro

WUM_fk7BhO8

Is it tram

Is it tram

yes.

Is it tram

The starting frame of the video has the tram...but the video is about joka-bbdbag metro...the elevated section is going to be constructed over the tram lines u see on the video....:)

The star ananda report on mamata banerjee writing letters to finance, defence and shipping ministries to solve some problems related to joka-bbdbag metro

WUM_fk7BhO8

The last photo of Joka tram route, also that was the newest tram line opened in 1986, but closed permanently in 2010, also the last sign of green reserved track tramway.

All tramcars has now transferred to the main network of Kolkata tram, manily to Kyderpur depot for serving route 36.

But how the problem would be solved for future Science city flyover, which is under construction?

Update:-

After chartered tram & single coach tram, 3 new plans have done from Tram Company. Those are –
a) Restaurant Tram - Simply like Melbourne & (temporarily suspended for earthquake damage) Christchurch HERITAGE tram system. An older tram could be used and would be converted to an AC restaurant. It will be fantastic because people could take lunch/dinner etc. sitting inside a moving time with bonus opportunity of traveling important parts of Kolkata.

b) AC Passenger Tram – At present no plan to buy modern trams from developed countries, but CTC has a plan to convert some new ordinary trams (i.e. uniclass fiber-glass body trams) to AC tram. Obviously it will be costlier, but it would also attract many tourists, which will decrease loss of CTC. But before it, transmission system from DC to AC, like many tram cities around the world.

c) Night tram service – Probably the best plan. Between 11 P.M. to 5 A.M. commuting in Kolkata is much problematic, especially to important places like main rail stations, airport and central bus terminus. 11 to 5 tram service will be ideal for those peoples who want to go to those places at that time. A feeder mini bus service could connect tram termini with important place.

Example – Airport with Belgachhia, Galiff Street with Dakshineshwar, Ultodingi with Bidhannagar & Jyotinagar, Baliganj with Ruby Hospital, Tollyganj with Garhia & Joka, Haorha Bridge with Shibpur, Bandhaghat & Nimtala, Kyderpur with Majherhat etc.

In night, there will be no complain (!) against tram for traffic jam. But the problem is that some tram lines has closed, so many places will not be possible for serving by tram.

But how the problem would be solved for future Science city flyover, which is under construction?

Update:-

After chartered tram & single coach tram, 3 new plans have done from Tram Company. Those are –
a) Restaurant Tram - Simply like Melbourne & (temporarily suspended for earthquake damage) Christchurch HERITAGE tram system. An older tram could be used and would be converted to an AC restaurant. It will be fantastic because people could take lunch/dinner etc. sitting inside a moving time with bonus opportunity of traveling important parts of Kolkata.
.

A restaurant tram along the maidan!! I welcome the move!!

I met with Tram Company’s Chairman Mr. Shantilal Jain on last Thusrday with some requests and demand, and the next is H-I-S-T-O-R-Y. I’ll not write much detail here because most readers will rebuke, discourage & joke me. I’ve done, am doing, and will do my urban-rail works silently. After completion, I’ll post the result. The coming week may be a revolutionary change in my urban-rail life. That’s all.

I met with Tram Company’s Chairman Mr. Shantilal Jain on last Thusrday with some requests and demand, and the next is H-I-S-T-O-R-Y. I’ll not write much detail here because most readers will rebuke, discourage & joke me. I’ve done, am doing, and will do my urban-rail works silently. After completion, I’ll post the result. The coming week may be a revolutionary change in my urban-rail life. That’s all.

Pls write about the future of trams in Kolkata.. I would want to see the trams running in Kolkata for decades to come.. Pls share the details..

I met with Tram Company’s Chairman Mr. Shantilal Jain on last Thusrday with some requests and demand, and the next is H-I-S-T-O-R-Y. I’ll not write much detail here because most readers will rebuke, discourage & joke me. I’ve done, am doing, and will do my urban-rail works silently. After completion, I’ll post the result. The coming week may be a revolutionary change in my urban-rail life. That’s all.

Thank you for taking all the trouble. Hope you do similar good work with Metro, ER and SER as well.

I met with Tram Company’s Chairman Mr. Shantilal Jain on last Thusrday with some requests and demand, and the next is H-I-S-T-O-R-Y. I’ll not write much detail here because most readers will rebuke, discourage & joke me. I’ve done, am doing, and will do my urban-rail works silently. After completion, I’ll post the result. The coming week may be a revolutionary change in my urban-rail life. That’s all.

Wish you all the very best in your efforts! I hope the tram company knows that trams are not a liability but an asset to kolkata...most beautiful european cities have extensive tram network (alongside metro network) ...and it will be good if kolkata trams could be upgraded ... there are a few prototype "modern" trams working at present but i would like to know if there are any plans to mass produce these and replace all old trams with these new ones?

I met with Tram Company’s Chairman Mr. Shantilal Jain on last Thusrday with some requests and demand, and the next is H-I-S-T-O-R-Y. I’ll not write much detail here because most readers will rebuke, discourage & joke me. I’ve done, am doing, and will do my urban-rail works silently. After completion, I’ll post the result. The coming week may be a revolutionary change in my urban-rail life. That’s all.

wish U success in ur efforts . BTW can U plzzz request the tramways company to introduce A/C trams in some routes .

wish U success in ur efforts . BTW can U plzzz request the tramways company to introduce A/C trams in some routes .

How about all routes in order to look forward. Why can't we just take one or two bold steps in India?

I met with Tram Company’s Chairman Mr. Shantilal Jain on last Thusrday with some requests and demand, and the next is H-I-S-T-O-R-Y. I’ll not write much detail here because most readers will rebuke, discourage & joke me. I’ve done, am doing, and will do my urban-rail works silently. After completion, I’ll post the result. The coming week may be a revolutionary change in my urban-rail life. That’s all.

Thank you Ashish .. your efforts are commendable .. I am sensitive to your feelings but only thing if you can disclose from your discussion is "Do trams have a good future in Kolkata ? "
I will be happy if the answer is positive.

I’ll not write much detail here because most readers will rebuke, discourage & joke me.

You provide a lot of valuable information and most forumers in Kolkata/WB threads appreciate that. So feel free to post good information in these threads. If anybody attacks you personally let me know by pm.

I met with Tram Company’s Chairman Mr. Shantilal Jain on last Thusrday with some requests and demand, and the next is H-I-S-T-O-R-Y. I’ll not write much detail here because most readers will rebuke, discourage & joke me. I’ve done, am doing, and will do my urban-rail works silently. After completion, I’ll post the result. The coming week may be a revolutionary change in my urban-rail life. That’s all.

Well done Ashish. We all appreciate the work you do and your technical knowledge. I will post some pictures, recently taken of European tram systems if that helps.

Well done Ashish. We all appreciate the work you do and your technical knowledge. I will post some pictures, recently taken of European tram systems if that helps.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/68476094@N06/6813796222/in/photostream

Vienna - a mixture of old and new - an example to follow ???

Well done Ashish. We all appreciate the work you do and your technical knowledge. I will post some pictures, recently taken of European tram systems if that helps.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/68476094@N06/6959908753/in/photostream

Bratislava - cannot match the efficiency of Vienna, but, nevertheless - trams are the principle mode of public transport.

Well done Ashish. We all appreciate the work you do and your technical knowledge. I will post some pictures, recently taken of European tram systems if that helps.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/68476094@N06/6959897723/in/photostream

Strasbourg - once again - the principle means of public transport.

Well done Ashish. We all appreciate the work you do and your technical knowledge. I will post some pictures, recently taken of European tram systems if that helps.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/68476094@N06/6813782198/in/photostream

Well done Ashish. We all appreciate the work you do and your technical knowledge. I will post some pictures, recently taken of European tram systems if that helps.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/68476094@N06/6813782198/in/photostream

Strasbourg. Only mass transport option. Tram rakes look tike the TGV's on SNCF.

Well done Ashish. We all appreciate the work you do and your technical knowledge. I will post some pictures, recently taken of European tram systems if that helps.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/68476094@N06/6813782198/in/photostream

Strasbourg

Bratislava - cannot match the efficiency of Vienna, but, nevertheless - trams are the principle mode of public transport.

Not quite. Trams are only present in the old town (around 20% of the whole city), and are few and far between. Other parts depend only on buses/trolley buses. Unlike other European cities, public transport in Bratislava is a real pain in the a**

Vienna - a mixture of old and new - an example to follow ???

Maybe. Trams in Vienna are restricted mostly to tourist use, as they service the main tourist destinations. Downtown Vienna and other residential parts are well connected by the U-Bahn.

We could also restrict trams in old Kolkata (Dharmatala, BBD Bag etc.), and expand metro to other parts.

Pls write about the future of trams in Kolkata.. I would want to see the trams running in Kolkata for decades to come.. Pls share the details..

Thank you for taking all the trouble. Hope you do similar good work with Metro, ER and SER as well.

Wish you all the very best in your efforts! I hope the tram company knows that trams are not a liability but an asset to kolkata...most beautiful european cities have extensive tram network (alongside metro network) ...and it will be good if kolkata trams could be upgraded ... there are a few prototype "modern" trams working at present but i would like to know if there are any plans to mass produce these and replace all old trams with these new ones?

wish U success in ur efforts . BTW can U plzzz request the tramways company to introduce A/C trams in some routes .

Thank you Ashish .. your efforts are commendable .. I am sensitive to your feelings but only thing if you can disclose from your discussion is "Do trams have a good future in Kolkata ? "
I will be happy if the answer is positive.

You provide a lot of valuable information and most forumers in Kolkata/WB threads appreciate that. So feel free to post good information in these threads. If anybody attacks you personally let me know by pm.

Well done Ashish. We all appreciate the work you do and your technical knowledge. I will post some pictures, recently taken of European tram systems if that helps.

Apnader samarthaner janya antarikbhabe kritajna.

The 'HOMELY EATING AND WILD BUFFALO DRIVING' will end tomorrow evening.

Results & answers will be started publishing from next week.

CHECK WIKIPEDIA typing KOLKATA AIRPORT for my updates.

ABAR JWALATAN KARTE SHURU KARLAM

Pls write about the future of trams in Kolkata.. I would want to see the trams running in Kolkata for decades to come.. Pls share the details..

After looking, hearing & reading latest news, I brightly hope that Kolkata’s tram may be developed step by step in near future. On meeting with Mr. S. Jain, CTC Chairman, he informed me some very bright plans. Also transport minister Mr. M. Mitra often says some interesting plans. And after mass concreting, I’m quite optimistic that there are much ways to develop tram service in Kolkata, along with metro. Most developed cities gradually decreasing automobiles in city centre, and increasing rail based transports like tram, light rail, mono rail, metro etc. The main problem of Kolkata is less road space, huge population & countess automobiles. BUT I’M QUITE OPTIMISTIC AFTER MY ON FIELD SURVEY & SNAPPING.

Thank you for taking all the trouble. Hope you do similar good work with Metro, ER and SER as well.

Certainly. Infact I’ve a plan to make a complete rail transport encyclopedia of Kolkata & Haorha. The first step is about tram, next will be metro, and finally will be suburban rail up to 25 Kms from Shialdaha & Haorha all around. We are far backdated in term of information in internet. As a 34 years old Kolkatan, I can’t avoid my responsibility to make Kolkata attractive to world.

Wish you all the very best in your efforts! I hope the tram company knows that trams are not a liability but an asset to kolkata...most beautiful european cities have extensive tram network (alongside metro network) ...and it will be good if kolkata trams could be upgraded ... there are a few prototype "modern" trams working at present but i would like to know if there are any plans to mass produce these and replace all old trams with these new ones?

After the yester-week detailed ON FIELD work, and conversation with some tram workers & Traffic Officers, it is no doubt that most people are interested about my work. Almost 98% people are unknown about world’s tramway. My long term project is to submit a master plan to both CTC & WBGovt to how develop the transportation of Kolkata, both by digitally printed & DVD/CD. We are far backdated, even went far backward to unreserved the tram-tracks, which is completely the opposite trend of world. Those modern trams of Kolkata are only the old wine on new bottle, i.e new body on old trucks. Engines, controllers, overhead equipments and others are all same as old trams. Introducing actual modern tram like Bombardier, CAF, Siemens, Alstom, Kawasaki-made etc. would be better, but will be a waste. We all know peoples of Kolkata & Haorha are much uneducated & uncultured. We have already new JNNURM buses, but within 2 years they are almost 30% damaged on each bus, including back light, glass, seat, stopping bell etc. Maintainance is very low, and if they maintain the existing ordinary fleets fully, it is sufficient. My grandfather told me that before 1970, all trams were cleaned before their first journey, rail water cars sprayed jet-water on track grooves for smooth journey. All are now history. Until the destructing mentality could be stopped, there will be no positive result by starting bran-new tram cars.

wish U success in ur efforts . BTW can U plzzz request the tramways company to introduce A/C trams in some routes .

It is on the agenda of transport department. On last Monday, Madanbabu told that introduction of high-speed AC trams may be practicalized in near future. They are keeping eye to the trams of Antalya, Eskisehir, Gaziantep, Istanbul, Kayseri, Konya & Samsun, but they shouldn’t forget that except Istanbul, all are small towns than Kolkata. So running a tram in 70 to 80 Km/h. is not a matter of joke. In Istanbul, Dalian, Hongkong & Sapporo (they are all mega cities, not country capital, & also has metro network – all like Kolkata), automobiles are restricted/abandoned on those streets where has tram lines. Government & traffic police must highlight to this point for a best tram service.

Thank you Ashish .. your efforts are commendable .. I am sensitive to your feelings but only thing if you can disclose from your discussion is "Do trams have a good future in Kolkata ? "
I will be happy if the answer is positive.

Look first answer

You provide a lot of valuable information and most forumers in Kolkata/WB threads appreciate that. So feel free to post good information in these threads. If anybody attacks you personally let me know by pm.

OK

Well done Ashish. We all appreciate the work you do and your technical knowledge. I will post some pictures, recently taken of European tram systems if that helps.

Sorry to say, but please mind that India is not a European Country in all way. So we must compare the urban rail network, especially tram to other 2nd/3rd world’s cities. The characteristics are much near with Kolkata is tramway of Rio de Janeiro, Dalian, Hongkong & Sapporo (they are all mega cities, not country capital, running tram continuously since its opening & also has metro network – all like Kolkata). Especially Hongkong’s tram is much similar with Kolkata, including trolley-pole, overhead wire style, congested roads, unreserved tracks etc. In my next meeting with Tram Company, I’ll submit those aspects of Hongkong’s tram to introduce partly/cheaply in Kolkata’s tram. Mr. Jain is already interested about it, took basic notes and one step ahead.

THE RESTARTING OF LADIES TRAM WAS ONE OF MY SUGGESSION TO CTC. They at least activated one of my suggestion.

AT LAST, PLEASE REMEMBER IT THAT KOLKATA IS NOT MY PERSONAL CITY. IT HAS ALMOST 5 MILLION INHABITANTS, SO ALL SHOULD HAVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR BETTERMENTING IT. BUYING CARS LIKE FRIED RICE, SPITTING BITTLE-REMAINS HERE & THERE, PEEPING ON ROADSIDE, CROSSING ROADS WHEREVER, AND POSTING NEGATIVE MESSAGES ABOUT KOLKATA IN INTERNET WILL NOT DEVELOP OUR CITY. ONE ALONE ASHIS MITRA COULDN’T CHANGE THE CITY, IT IS OUR COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILY.

ট্রাম বাঁচাতে কেন্দ্রের দ্বারস্থ রাজ্য

inShare
সমিত সেনগুপ্ত, স্টার আনন্দ
Friday, 06 April 2012 22:21
ট্রামের আর্থিক দুরবস্থা কাটানোর জন্য এ বার কেন্দ্রের দ্বারস্থ রাজ্য৷ ক্যালকাটা ট্রাম কোম্পানির তরফ থেকে কেন্দ্রীয় নগরোন্নয়ন দফতরের কাছে আর্থিক সাহায্য চাওয়া হয়েছে৷ কেন্দ্রের বক্তব্য, বিষয়টি গুরুত্ব দিয়ে বিশ্লেষণের পাশাপাশি কলকাতার ট্রামকে দেশের অন্য শহরে চালানোরও পরিকল্পনা করা হচ্ছে৷
১৮৮০-এর ১ নভেম্বর থেকে কলকাতায় চলছে ট্রাম৷ বহু ঘাত-প্রতিঘাত ইতিহাসের সাক্ষী এই নস্টালজিক যানটি৷ শহরের শতাব্দী প্রাচীন এই ঐতিহ্যবাহী যান এখন চূড়ান্ত আর্থিক সংকটে ধুঁকছে৷ ট্রাম নিয়ন্ত্রক সংস্থা ক্যালকাটা ট্রাম কোম্পানির বার্ষিক আয় মাত্র ৫০ কোটি টাকা৷ যেখানে ব্যয় ২৫০ কোটি টাকা৷ এই পরিস্থিতিতে প্রতি বছর রাজ্য সরকার প্রায় ২০০ কোটি টাকা ভর্তুকি দিচ্ছে এই সংস্থাকে৷ এই চূড়ান্ত আর্থিক সংকটের মুখে দাঁড়িয়েই ট্রাম বাঁচাতে কেন্দ্রের দ্বারস্থ হয়েছে রাজ্য৷ সিটিসি-র তরফ থেকে কেন্দ্রীয় নগরোন্নয়ন মন্ত্রকে ট্রামের জন্য আর্থিক অনুদান চেয়ে চিঠি লেখা হয়েছে৷ ট্রামের মত দূষণহীন জাতীয় ঐতিহ্যবাহী যান যাতে হেলায় হারিয়ে না যায় তার জন্য রাজ্যের আবেদন যথেষ্ট গুরুত্ব সহকারে বিবেচনা করা হচ্ছে বলে জানিয়েছে কেন্দ্রীয় নগরোন্নয়ন মন্ত্রক৷
শুধু রাজ্যের আবেদনে সাড়া দেওয়াই নয়, সারা দেশে ট্রামকে যাতায়াতের বিকল্প মাধ্যম হিসেবে তুলে ধরতে চাইছে কেন্দ্র৷
কেন্দ্রীয় নগরোন্নয়ন মন্ত্রী, মন্ত্রকের সচিবকে নির্দেশ দিয়েছেন যে, পশ্চিমবঙ্গ সরকারের যদি ট্রাম সংস্কার সংক্রান্ত নির্দিষ্ট কোনও পরিকল্পনা থাকে সেক্ষেত্রে আর্থিক অনুদানের বিষয়টি খতিয়ে দেখতে হবে৷ পাশাপাশি দূষণহীন এই যানকে দেশের অন্যান্য শহরে যাতে চালানো যায় সে বিষয়ে ক্যালক্যাটা ট্রাম কোম্পানির সঙ্গে কথা বলে নির্দিষ্ট পরিকল্পনা গ্রহণ করতে হবে৷
কেন্দ্রের তরফ থেকে সদুত্তর পাওয়ার পর সিটিসি এখন ট্রাম সংস্কার সংক্রান্ত নির্দিষ্ট পরিকল্পনা শুরু করে দিয়েছে৷ সম্ভবত আগামী সপ্তাহেই পরিবহণ দফতরের ছাড়পত্রের জন্য সেই পরিকল্পনা জমা পড়বে মহাকরণে৷



Source:http://starananda.newsbullet.in/kolkata/59-more/20597-2012-04-06-16-53-15

Translation: The State Government has asked for financial help from the Urban Development Department, GoI for revival of the tram service in Kolkata. The State Government is current providing a subsidy of Rs. 200 crore/ year to the CTC, while the earning is only 50 Crore. There is a proposal of introduction of tram in other cities in India.

MIXED FEELING AFTER HEARING A NEWS:-

BAD FEELING:- Line 2 will be opened in 2016, which is 2 years later of the original schedule. Original plan was on 2014, but it is now minimum 2 years late, which is also not sure I think, because of the work culture, and the encroachment problem in Dattabad area. Currently the elevated portion from Bidhannagar Sector 5 to City Centre & from Bengal Chemical to Swabhumi is almost complete, underground portion from Phulbagan to Haorha Maidan is going strong. Work is going on full pace at Phulbagan, Shialdaha Stn. and Haorha Maidan., but the gap at Dattabad is still weak. So mixed of this condition, I doubt, will it be able to complete in 2016? By that time, traffic congestion will be worse in Kolkata.

GOOD FEELING:- But the only optimission is all other projects, i.e. Line 1 extension, & new line 3, 4, 5 & 6, all are planned to open also in 2016, if the work will go smooth as present. Then in 2016, we will get 5 new lines, and an extension, at a time. Just think how great will it!!???

Line 2 may change alignment also, via Shialdaha, Moula Ali, Subodh Chandra Mallik Square, Esplanade & Binay Badal Dinesh Bag, because of encroachment, so crossing with line 1 at Central may not be occur. However, it is still not final, and if it will, the completion will be delayed more 3 years I think.

However, 6th AC rake has arrived now, and in future, more on plan. But metro company thinks to import foreign make rakes, which will be too costly. We, Kolkatans are very much uncultured, and maintenance is also very casual here. Existing ordinary metros are often suffers with defective doors, damaged vestibules etc., we travelers are also responsible for this. Coaches made in ICF, BEML or BHEL is quite OK. We don’t need much comfortable coach, in cost of higher fare, we need more & more expanded metro lines, and quick opening of them. Costly coaches are not important.

Pranabananda rail station will open in May. Minding chaotic overcorowding, metro company is now thinking short services from Mahanayak Uttam Kumar, Maidan & Girish Park

TRIVIA:- Maidan is a Farsi word, and Girish is often written Greece on minibuses.

27th March, on that day of 1902, electric tram service opened in Kolkata, on current route 36. So this is a historical day of Kolkata, and just 1 month after, our house was constructed at Rajabazar. Note, route numbering applied only around sixties, before that, routes were identified only by their destinations.

Extension of tram service in Bidhannagar & Jyotinagar is on agenda of CTC.

Chairman of CTC gifted me the original blue-print of Kolkata’s tram map, mentioning year by year opening of lines, it is a platinum mine.

MIXED FEELING AFTER HEARING A NEWS:-

Extension of tram service in Bidhannagar & Jyotinagar is on agenda of CTC.

Chairman of CTC gifted me the original blue-print of Kolkata’s tram map, mentioning year by year opening of lines, it is a platinum mine.

Ashish thanks for the the updates and congratulations for the gift !! Your efforts are highly commendable.
Few questions ..
From where will CTC get funds to do this ?
You also mentioned earlier about the monorail project by CTC . Haven't heard any official note on that yet.

Extension of tram service in Bidhannagar & Jyotinagar is on agenda of CTC.

Chairman of CTC gifted me the original blue-print of Kolkata’s tram map, mentioning year by year opening of lines, it is a platinum mine.[/QUOTE]

Congrats Ashis, your efforts are truly commendable. I agree with B2C, given the poor financial condition of CTC, can they open new lines when they are struggling to maintain existing services.

http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/1595/dscf0060eg.jpg

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/5194/dscf0059qv.jpg

sorry for the tram pics n camera quality......:sad2:

they are nice..

Tram is really looking good

Gr8 trams pics da fista...
I personally believe that there should be a separate thread for Trams....

Ma Sarada metro station will be opened soon. It will be first northern metro station of Damdam, will be at Noaparha. Opening of this station will not be much tough, because, it will be in the Noaparha depot area, where will be no question of further land acquisition. In future, it will be an interchange station between line 1 & 4, and separate up & down line of line 4 (due to space problem of between Ma Sarada & Jaihind). I don’t know whether it will be opened before 31/12/12 or not.

Due to lack of passenger in early morning, mid day & late night, Tram Company is now thinkingg introduce single coach tram from 4 to 8, 12 to 16 and 20 to 24. I welcome this idea, because it will be cost saving. Many cities around the world runs single coach tram, including Toshkent, Rio de Janeiro, Sapporo, Tokyo etc. It will be served by only one ticket collector.

http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/1595/dscf0060eg.jpg

But the great shame is using the ugly iron route board, destpite the modern tram has present LED route board. when will the mentality change?

^^ but you have to admit, this one looks good on road :cheers:

great pics there :cheers:

Before 2016, all metrocars & tramcars of Kolkata will be converted to air-conditioned rakes, mostly by new stocks, partly by converting from old stocks.

Before 2016, all metrocars & tramcars of Kolkata will be converted to air-conditioned rakes, mostly by new stocks, partly by converting from old stocks.

By new stock, are we referring to really new rakes like this? Not sure if CTC has the cash to buy these:

http://groningertram.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/amsterdam-tram.jpg


Companies like Jessop can actually try building modern trams with AC.

Trams are never feasible in a crowded indian city...
Just get rid of them

Instead, have elevated LRTS.....

By new stock, are we referring to really new rakes like this? Not sure if CTC has the cash to buy these:
http://groningertram.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/amsterdam-tram.jpg
Companies like Jessop can actually try building modern trams with AC.

the best model for a city like Kolkata is the Tatra T3 that is in use in cities like Prague and Vienna :

http://i50.tinypic.com/296kb9w.jpg

the Tatra T3 (https://www.google.com/search?q=Tatra+T3&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=fKZ&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=imvns&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=rdvpT_fwC8Ke0QXw0YSqAQ&ved=0CDoQ_AUoAQ&biw=1366&bih=584) is aesthetic and is very very well designed for robust use. nyaka nyaka futuristic low floor trams do not go well with our city. they look like a misfit.

But they are white and blue :D

But they are white and blue :D

here's a blue Tatra T3 in Prague:

http://i46.tinypic.com/119z66v.jpg

If CTC doesn't start making profits soon, more tram routes will be shut down and trams will eventually cease to exist.

oh !! This has become a tram thread now :)

TOI (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Centre-to-help-revive-trams/articleshow/14538261.cms)
Centre to help revive trams

KOLKATA: The central government has stepped forward to breathe new life into Kolkata's trams, which have been pushed to the brink of extinction.

Union urban development secretary Sudhir Krishna on Saturday said that the Centre may meet 40% of the viability gap funding to refurbish and redesign tram services in Kolkata, the only city where the Raj era transport survives.

Krishna met chief secretary Samar Ghosh, transport secretary B P Gopalika and transport department special secretary Jayanta Saha at Writers' Buildings and suggested prescribed a three-tier rejuvenation package.

First, the state government must prepare a citywide multi-modal integrated public transport network and confirm the corridors along which trams can ply. Second, there should be low cost measures to increase the number of passengers. For instance, tram stops can be shifted to road-intersections so that people can get on and off easily and cross the road safely. Third, a plan to upgrade the tram operation as part of the citywide network.

The ministry of urban development has asked the Institute of Urban Transport to study the Kolkata tram system to analyse the economics, scope of renovation and possibility of introducing tram-trains in India. Ministry officials have met members of 16 NGOs working in urban sectors besides 20 members of CII urbanization and Future Cities

"The new concept tram-trains have been developed in Germany. Under it, trams run on intercity railway tracks outside the city. Tram-trains are a good idea and will save cost by more intensive use of available infrastructure," said Krishna, adding that trams hold a great possibility if they could be revived and redesigned.

"Today, I got some unique propositions from the state government, like banquet tram where business conferences and social parties can be organized. There can be heritage tram trips. Tourists can have a tour of the city by a heritage carriage. Trams can also be used for commercial purpose to transport goods. For instance, vegetables can be carried from wholesale to retail markets," he said.

"I think it is high time to take the tram beyond the city limit. In new townships like Rajarhat and Dankuni, trams can be used much more efficiently. During our interaction, we found that despite its bad financial shape, nobody wanted the tram network scrapped. Everybody wanted Kolkata trams to be revived and restored to its old glory. Moreover, it has an immense heritage value and is integral to the socio-cultural fabric of the city," he said.

TOI (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Centre-to-help-revive-trams/articleshow/14538261.cms)
Centre to help revive trams

KOLKATA: The central government has stepped forward to breathe new life into Kolkata's trams, which have been pushed to the brink of extinction.

Union urban development secretary Sudhir Krishna on Saturday said that the Centre may meet 40% of the viability gap funding to refurbish and redesign tram services in Kolkata, the only city where the Raj era transport survives.

Krishna met chief secretary Samar Ghosh, transport secretary B P Gopalika and transport department special secretary Jayanta Saha at Writers' Buildings and suggested prescribed a three-tier rejuvenation package.

First, the state government must prepare a citywide multi-modal integrated public transport network and confirm the corridors along which trams can ply. Second, there should be low cost measures to increase the number of passengers. For instance, tram stops can be shifted to road-intersections so that people can get on and off easily and cross the road safely. Third, a plan to upgrade the tram operation as part of the citywide network.

The ministry of urban development has asked the Institute of Urban Transport to study the Kolkata tram system to analyse the economics, scope of renovation and possibility of introducing tram-trains in India. Ministry officials have met members of 16 NGOs working in urban sectors besides 20 members of CII urbanization and Future Cities

"The new concept tram-trains have been developed in Germany. Under it, trams run on intercity railway tracks outside the city. Tram-trains are a good idea and will save cost by more intensive use of available infrastructure," said Krishna, adding that trams hold a great possibility if they could be revived and redesigned.

"Today, I got some unique propositions from the state government, like banquet tram where business conferences and social parties can be organized. There can be heritage tram trips. Tourists can have a tour of the city by a heritage carriage. Trams can also be used for commercial purpose to transport goods. For instance, vegetables can be carried from wholesale to retail markets," he said.

"I think it is high time to take the tram beyond the city limit. In new townships like Rajarhat and Dankuni, trams can be used much more efficiently. During our interaction, we found that despite its bad financial shape, nobody wanted the tram network scrapped. Everybody wanted Kolkata trams to be revived and restored to its old glory. Moreover, it has an immense heritage value and is integral to the socio-cultural fabric of the city," he said.

Banquet trams etc is fine, but we need modern coaches which are fast, with electronic display, automatic doors and air-conditioned. Then spread the tram network to New Town, Howrah, Dankuni and Baruipur. This will give a tremendous boost to trams. Go for PPP model to achieve this and please don't refurbish old coaches, they are relics now.

TOI (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Centre-to-help-revive-trams/articleshow/14538261.cms)
Centre to help revive trams

KOLKATA: The central government has stepped forward to breathe new life into Kolkata's trams, which have been pushed to the brink of extinction.

Union urban development secretary Sudhir Krishna on Saturday said that the Centre may meet 40% of the viability gap funding to refurbish and redesign tram services in Kolkata, the only city where the Raj era transport survives.

Krishna met chief secretary Samar Ghosh, transport secretary B P Gopalika and transport department special secretary Jayanta Saha at Writers' Buildings and suggested prescribed a three-tier rejuvenation package.

First, the state government must prepare a citywide multi-modal integrated public transport network and confirm the corridors along which trams can ply. Second, there should be low cost measures to increase the number of passengers. For instance, tram stops can be shifted to road-intersections so that people can get on and off easily and cross the road safely. Third, a plan to upgrade the tram operation as part of the citywide network.

The ministry of urban development has asked the Institute of Urban Transport to study the Kolkata tram system to analyse the economics, scope of renovation and possibility of introducing tram-trains in India. Ministry officials have met members of 16 NGOs working in urban sectors besides 20 members of CII urbanization and Future Cities

"The new concept tram-trains have been developed in Germany. Under it, trams run on intercity railway tracks outside the city. Tram-trains are a good idea and will save cost by more intensive use of available infrastructure," said Krishna, adding that trams hold a great possibility if they could be revived and redesigned.

"Today, I got some unique propositions from the state government, like banquet tram where business conferences and social parties can be organized. There can be heritage tram trips. Tourists can have a tour of the city by a heritage carriage. Trams can also be used for commercial purpose to transport goods. For instance, vegetables can be carried from wholesale to retail markets," he said.

"I think it is high time to take the tram beyond the city limit. In new townships like Rajarhat and Dankuni, trams can be used much more efficiently. During our interaction, we found that despite its bad financial shape, nobody wanted the tram network scrapped. Everybody wanted Kolkata trams to be revived and restored to its old glory. Moreover, it has an immense heritage value and is integral to the socio-cultural fabric of the city," he said.

WHAT ASHIS-MITRA THINK TODAY, CENTRAL GOVT. THINKS TOMORROW, & SKYSCRAPPER FORUMERS POST THAT IN THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW.

By new stock, are we referring to really new rakes like this? Not sure if CTC has the cash to buy these:

http://groningertram.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/amsterdam-tram.jpg

Companies like Jessop can actually try building modern trams with AC.

The source of this news is a 15 minutes meeting of me with Mr. Shantilal Jain at CTC HQ on last Wednesday.

The summary of the meeting will be posted here within a week I hope.

http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/urban-rail-news-in-brief-july-2012.html
Following a study of the Kolkata tramway undertaken by the Institute of Urban Transport, India’s Ministry of Urban Development has asked states to consider the use of trams for metro feeder services or to replace bus rapid transit.

Recently I met with tram company’s chairman, with some sugession for betterment of Kolkata’s tram system, by cheap ways, because we are mostly uncultured, uneducated & poor (each links to each). Here is a brief description about it.

1) Install platforms at tram stops with clear signs on those roads which are very wide and tram runs middle of the road, to safely entram or detram, especially for children, women, senior citizens & handicappeds.
A:- This has already submitted to state government, and actively considering now.

2) Install closable doors on each tram for safety and smart look, and ensuring that tram will stop only on platforms.
A:- This is under the rolling stock renovation project, and a good idea also.

3) Stop using ugly iron route board, hanging in front of tram from iron net, and modify this system by good looking.
A:- This is also under the rolling stock renovation project. There all trams will get LED display board. (I doubt how many drivers will use it, because of their casual backdated mentality, although private bus drivers mostly use it, but government bus drivers hardly use it).

4) Replace ugly backdated fornt iron net by fibre glass with wiper, also for healthy driving.
A:- This is also under the rolling stock renovation project. All trams will be step by step converted to air- conditioned coaches, with some completely new air-conditioned rakes. So then it will be obvious to install front glass.

5) Install seats & fans on driver’s cabin for comfortability of drivers.
A:- This is also under the rolling stock renovation project. All new trams have got it, and in future more trams will get it.

6) Replace ordinary bulbs by CFL on both inside & outside, for brighter looks, and decreasing electricity consumption.
A:- This is also under the rolling stock renovation project. All new trams will get CFLs.

7) If cars’ washing should be started regularly in the late night, like metro or suburban trains, all trams will look clean & bright, which will help to attract passengers.
A:- We are trying to improve this condition.

8) CTC must supply necessary parts as early as needed. It will help to run almost 95% tram running from all depots, and thus improving to a reliable service.
A:- We are trying to improve this condition.

9) Tracks and wires must be checked regularly from 12 Midnight to 3:30 AM everyday.
A:- We are trying to improve this condition. (I think it will require new fresh young educated employees)

10) Breakdown vans & tower wagons must be ready all time for emergency service, and if possible should be stocked on some busy roads/intersections.
A:- We are trying to improve this condition.

11) If maintenance could be high, and if sudden damage happens accidentally, it should be recovered as quick as possible, to prevent that passengers should not get down from tram and go to bus, metro or other vehicles.
A:- We are aware about this situation, and trying to improve it.

12) If any route will be closed for any reason temporarily, CTC must be inform via newspapers to passengers, that they should know how to avoid particular routes, in case of service halting.
A:- Interesting suggession, we should consider it.

13) CTC should advertise sometimes on newspapers/radio/television to focusing positive attitudes of tram service, to describe why people should travel by tram as much as possible.
A:- Interesting suggession, we should consider it.

14) www.calcuttatramways.com should be fully refurbished with latest technologies, to attract more passengers, especially tourists.
A:- We have just started it. Perhaps it will look better in near future.

15) Advertisement should be introduced not only on tramcars, but also in & on depots, termini, tickets etc. Some rental based service like restaurants, shops, markets etc. Could be opened on depot/termini premises, which will increase the income of CTC.
A:- Some companies has shown interest. We are thining to opning some LPG pumps on some depot. (I’m in doubt that wouldn’t those pumps increase chaos inside depots/termini?)

16) Single coach tram may be introduced during off peak hours.
A:- This is the ultimate under the rolling stock renovation project. We should replace all double-coach tram to single, and that coach will be lengthier than present. All other modifications (see above) will be installed on those new trams.

17) Other vehicles should be reduced and controlled to those roads, where tram service is active.
A:- We are in doubt to apply this way on current network, it is under debate, but we are actively thinking about extension of the tram network towards Jyotinagar, Bidhannagar & Bantala. At those places, tram will run on fully reserved track with high speed. (This was published on some newspapers & TV channels, with some modifications, i.e. it may be light rail, not tram, with elevated way, and central government is also interested about it.)

Recently I met with tram company’s chairman, with some sugession for betterment of Kolkata’s tram system, by cheap ways, because we are mostly uncultured, uneducated & poor (each links to each). Here is a brief description about it.

1) Install platforms at tram stops with clear signs on those roads which are very wide and tram runs middle of the road, to safely entram or detram, especially for children, women, senior citizens & handicappeds.
A:- This has already submitted to state government, and actively considering now.

2) Install closable doors on each tram for safety and smart look, and ensuring that tram will stop only on platforms.
A:- This is under the rolling stock renovation project, and a good idea also.

3) Stop using ugly iron route board, hanging in front of tram from iron net, and modify this system by good looking.
A:- This is also under the rolling stock renovation project. There all trams will get LED display board. (I doubt how many drivers will use it, because of their casual backdated mentality, although private bus drivers mostly use it, but government bus drivers hardly use it).

4) Replace ugly backdated fornt iron net by fibre glass with wiper, also for healthy driving.
A:- This is also under the rolling stock renovation project. All trams will be step by step converted to air- conditioned coaches, with some completely new air-conditioned rakes. So then it will be obvious to install front glass.

5) Install seats & fans on driver’s cabin for comfortability of drivers.
A:- This is also under the rolling stock renovation project. All new trams have got it, and in future more trams will get it.

6) Replace ordinary bulbs by CFL on both inside & outside, for brighter looks, and decreasing electricity consumption.
A:- This is also under the rolling stock renovation project. All new trams will get CFLs.

7) If cars’ washing should be started regularly in the late night, like metro or suburban trains, all trams will look clean & bright, which will help to attract passengers.
A:- We are trying to improve this condition.

8) CTC must supply necessary parts as early as needed. It will help to run almost 95% tram running from all depots, and thus improving to a reliable service.
A:- We are trying to improve this condition.

9) Tracks and wires must be checked regularly from 12 Midnight to 3:30 AM everyday.
A:- We are trying to improve this condition. (I think it will require new fresh young educated employees)

10) Breakdown vans & tower wagons must be ready all time for emergency service, and if possible should be stocked on some busy roads/intersections.
A:- We are trying to improve this condition.

11) If maintenance could be high, and if sudden damage happens accidentally, it should be recovered as quick as possible, to prevent that passengers should not get down from tram and go to bus, metro or other vehicles.
A:- We are aware about this situation, and trying to improve it.

12) If any route will be closed for any reason temporarily, CTC must be inform via newspapers to passengers, that they should know how to avoid particular routes, in case of service halting.
A:- Interesting suggession, we should consider it.

13) CTC should advertise sometimes on newspapers/radio/television to focusing positive attitudes of tram service, to describe why people should travel by tram as much as possible.
A:- Interesting suggession, we should consider it.

14) www.calcuttatramways.com should be fully refurbished with latest technologies, to attract more passengers, especially tourists.
A:- We have just started it. Perhaps it will look better in near future.

15) Advertisement should be introduced not only on tramcars, but also in & on depots, termini, tickets etc. Some rental based service like restaurants, shops, markets etc. Could be opened on depot/termini premises, which will increase the income of CTC.
A:- Some companies has shown interest. We are thining to opning some LPG pumps on some depot. (I’m in doubt that wouldn’t those pumps increase chaos inside depots/termini?)

16) Single coach tram may be introduced during off peak hours.
A:- This is the ultimate under the rolling stock renovation project. We should replace all double-coach tram to single, and that coach will be lengthier than present. All other modifications (see above) will be installed on those new trams.

17) Other vehicles should be reduced and controlled to those roads, where tram service is active.
A:- We are in doubt to apply this way on current network, it is under debate, but we are actively thinking about extension of the tram network towards Jyotinagar, Bidhannagar & Bantala. At those places, tram will run on fully reserved track with high speed. (This was published on some newspapers & TV channels, with some modifications, i.e. it may be light rail, not tram, with elevated way, and central government is also interested about it.)

But who's going to fund all these changes? That's the biggest question the chairman has to answer. Without proper financing, none of these steps could be taken. Also, renovating the old coaches to look modern is as bad as putting make-up on a monkey to look like bride. They simply have to get modern ac coaches which are fast. It hardly matters whether Govt. is considering these proposals or not, becoz they don't have money to implement the proposals. Handover the tram service to some private company on a build-operate-manage route.

But who's going to fund all these changes? That's the biggest question the chairman has to answer. Without proper financing, none of these steps could be taken. Also, renovating the old coaches to look modern is as bad as putting make-up on a monkey to look like bride. They simply have to get modern ac coaches which are fast. It hardly matters whether Govt. is considering these proposals or not, becoz they don't have money to implement the proposals. Handover the tram service to some private company on a build-operate-manage route.

I 100% agree with you. Moreover CTC shud think to run trams on elevated track rather than on surface. It should appoint some professional consultant firms to find the new routes which are profitable rather than open routes here and there. If require, it shud close some old routes which are not profitable at all. I beleive Trams shud run as the feeder service for metro and single ticket system shud be introduced for both metro and trams (and may be bus also).

Recently I met with tram company’s chairman, with some sugession for betterment of Kolkata’s tram system, by cheap ways, because we are mostly uncultured, uneducated & poor (each links to each). Here is a brief description about it.



I don't agree with this. Good and clean surrounding encourages good behaviour. The same Indians travel DMRC and IR. But see the difference in cleanliness of two systems. So CTC shall improve on its part people will follow. This socialist mindset of blaming everything of Indian mentality and high population, no longer holds good.

Recently I met with tram company’s chairman, with some sugession for betterment of Kolkata’s tram system, by cheap ways, because we are mostly uncultured, uneducated & poor (each links to each). Here is a brief description about it.

1) Install platforms at tram stops with clear signs on those roads which are very wide and tram runs middle of the road, to safely entram or detram, especially for children, women, senior citizens & handicappeds.
A:- This has already submitted to state government, and actively considering now.

2) Install closable doors on each tram for safety and smart look, and ensuring that tram will stop only on platforms.
A:- This is under the rolling stock renovation project, and a good idea also.

3) Stop using ugly iron route board, hanging in front of tram from iron net, and modify this system by good looking.
A:- This is also under the rolling stock renovation project. There all trams will get LED display board. (I doubt how many drivers will use it, because of their casual backdated mentality, although private bus drivers mostly use it, but government bus drivers hardly use it).

4) Replace ugly backdated fornt iron net by fibre glass with wiper, also for healthy driving.
A:- This is also under the rolling stock renovation project. All trams will be step by step converted to air- conditioned coaches, with some completely new air-conditioned rakes. So then it will be obvious to install front glass.

5) Install seats & fans on driver’s cabin for comfortability of drivers.
A:- This is also under the rolling stock renovation project. All new trams have got it, and in future more trams will get it.

6) Replace ordinary bulbs by CFL on both inside & outside, for brighter looks, and decreasing electricity consumption.
A:- This is also under the rolling stock renovation project. All new trams will get CFLs.

7) If cars’ washing should be started regularly in the late night, like metro or suburban trains, all trams will look clean & bright, which will help to attract passengers.
A:- We are trying to improve this condition.

8) CTC must supply necessary parts as early as needed. It will help to run almost 95% tram running from all depots, and thus improving to a reliable service.
A:- We are trying to improve this condition.

9) Tracks and wires must be checked regularly from 12 Midnight to 3:30 AM everyday.
A:- We are trying to improve this condition. (I think it will require new fresh young educated employees)

10) Breakdown vans & tower wagons must be ready all time for emergency service, and if possible should be stocked on some busy roads/intersections.
A:- We are trying to improve this condition.

11) If maintenance could be high, and if sudden damage happens accidentally, it should be recovered as quick as possible, to prevent that passengers should not get down from tram and go to bus, metro or other vehicles.
A:- We are aware about this situation, and trying to improve it.

12) If any route will be closed for any reason temporarily, CTC must be inform via newspapers to passengers, that they should know how to avoid particular routes, in case of service halting.
A:- Interesting suggession, we should consider it.

13) CTC should advertise sometimes on newspapers/radio/television to focusing positive attitudes of tram service, to describe why people should travel by tram as much as possible.
A:- Interesting suggession, we should consider it.

14) www.calcuttatramways.com should be fully refurbished with latest technologies, to attract more passengers, especially tourists.
A:- We have just started it. Perhaps it will look better in near future.

15) Advertisement should be introduced not only on tramcars, but also in & on depots, termini, tickets etc. Some rental based service like restaurants, shops, markets etc. Could be opened on depot/termini premises, which will increase the income of CTC.
A:- Some companies has shown interest. We are thining to opning some LPG pumps on some depot. (I’m in doubt that wouldn’t those pumps increase chaos inside depots/termini?)

16) Single coach tram may be introduced during off peak hours.
A:- This is the ultimate under the rolling stock renovation project. We should replace all double-coach tram to single, and that coach will be lengthier than present. All other modifications (see above) will be installed on those new trams.

17) Other vehicles should be reduced and controlled to those roads, where tram service is active.
A:- We are in doubt to apply this way on current network, it is under debate, but we are actively thinking about extension of the tram network towards Jyotinagar, Bidhannagar & Bantala. At those places, tram will run on fully reserved track with high speed. (This was published on some newspapers & TV channels, with some modifications, i.e. it may be light rail, not tram, with elevated way, and central government is also interested about it.)

I have dreamed a suggestion like: We could have a common smart card which can be used for travelling in all the metro lines, trams and ac buses, and on LRTs (if implemented letter). As japan have SUICA.

Trams are never feasible in a crowded indian city...
Just get rid of them

Instead, have elevated LRTS.....

I always dreamed the Monorail in Kolkata which is ideal for congested city like Kolkata

TOI (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Kolkata-trams-to-get-a-GenX-makeover/articleshow/14857280.cms)
Kolkata trams to get a GenX makeover

KOLKATA: Just when it seemed the tram had trundled to a dead end, it is being touted by the Union government as the transport of the future.

Delhi is not only willing to help revitalize Kolkata's tram network, it has also offered to buy new-age trams to revolutionize the way the Raj-era relic is seen by commuters and the administration alike.

There is a lot of emotion associated with the tram in Kolkata, where it has been rolling for well over a century. The Kolkata tram, running since 1902, is the oldest operating electric tram in Asia, but it is saddled with losses and thought to be in its last legs.

The Centre is ready to give every support for the turn-around, but it has also asked Calcutta Tramways Company (CTC) to take some steps to earn revenue and narrow the widening earning-expenditure gap.

All five public sector transport utilities in Bengal survive on a whopping Rs 600 crore annual subsidy from the state government. CTC is the biggest subsidy sucker.

Union urban development secretary Sudhir Krishna told TOI that trams were the way to go.

"The tram has regained tremendous significance worldwide since the oil crisis of the Seventies. So the western countries, which had abolished tramways in Forties and Fifties to boost the automobile sector, have brought back trams in an upgraded version. Today, as many as 343 tramway or light rail transit (LRT) systems are operating worldwide. We are very hopeful about the resilience of the Kolkata tram that has withstood the threat of extinction," he said.

The urban development ministry has engaged the Institute of Urban Transport (IUT) to study the faults and virtues of tram. "What we found is that the Kolkata tram needs to be upgraded. The project is bankable. Our claim is based on the outcome of a detailed study for introducing LRT in Delhi as a part of a multi-modal integrated city wide transport network. In Kolkata, it has more potential with the city being much more compact compared to Delhi and would thus offer better ridership," said Krishna.

The IUT study revealed that CTC has substantial land-holding at prime locations which can be intelligently developed to generate revenue. "The ministry is ready to fund the viability gap," said Krishna, adding, "The study has recommended tram train and LRT as viable options for the future."

Currently, CTC's operating efficiency (revenue from operations as a percentage of total expenditure) is only 18% — a mere Rs 49.76 crore of the total expenditure of Rs 274.11 crore. Around 42% of the expenditure is met through subsidy. The study shows that most of the profitable routes and key linkages have been closed. Tram movement is restricted during peak hours. Natural terminals were severed from other routes and there were no fare revisions for years together. All these factors caused the decline of the city tram.

Kolkata's trams suffered a major blow when CTC decided to introduce buses in November 1992, say the IUT analysts. "The focus shifted from operating trams to buses. Today, CTC incurs a huge operating loss of over Rs 10 crore. The bus fleet has increased from 40 to 400 but the number of trams has dropped from 530 in the early 1980s to 270, of which only 130 ply on the streets," said Krishna.

Source : CTC (http://www.calcuttatramways.com/map.htm)

The Calcutta Tramways Company (1978) Limited (CTC) runs trams in Kolkata (formerly known as Calcutta). The Kolkata tram is the oldest operating electric tram in Asia, running since 1902. Although tram in Kolkata has entered into its 3rd century,yet it has been able to maintain its much touted hype,sheer & still attracts people to have a smooth silk glide on it's carriages.

Kolkata Tram Route Map

http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/5627/trammap.jpg

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/650/47823521212c0e7b9fbeb.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/84/47823521212c0e7b9fbeb.jpg/)

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/5916/transport.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/69/transport.jpg/)

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/4654/tram65c2a9.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/140/tram65c2a9.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

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Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/5931/koltram1.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/522/koltram1.jpg/)

http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/8286/kolkatatram.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/51/kolkatatram.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/9981/265060027d8108a8e6b.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/714/265060027d8108a8e6b.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/4484/img0079oo.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/687/img0079oo.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/4410/p4136527.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/690/p4136527.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/8882/newtram.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/690/newtram.jpg/)

http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/8562/img1882.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/651/img1882.jpg/)

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Source (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calcutta_Tramways_Company)
Timeline

1873
An attempt was made to run a 2.4-mile (3.9 km) tramway service between Sealdah and Armenian Ghat Street on 24 February. The service was not adequately patronised, and was discontinued on 20 Nov.

1880
The Calcutta Tramway Co. Ltd was formed and registered in London on 22 December. Metre-gauge horse-drawn tram tracks were laid from Sealdah to Armenian Ghat via Bowbazar Street, Dalhousie Square and Strand Road. The route was inaugurated by the Viceroy, Lord Ripon, on 1 November.

1882
Steam locomotives were deployed experimentally to haul tram cars. By the end of the nineteenth century the company owned 166 tram cars, 1000 horses, seven steam locomotives and 19 miles of tram tracks.

1900
Electrification of the tramway, and reconstruction of tracks to 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) (standard gauge) was begun.

1902
The first electric tramcar in Asia ran from Esplanade to Kidderpore on 27 March, and on 14 June from Esplanade to Kalighat.

1903
The Kalighat line was extended to Tollygunje, the Esplanade line to Belgachhia (via Bidhan Sarani, Shyambazar), and the Esplanade to Shialdaha route (via Binay Badal Dinesh Bag, Rajib Gandhi Sarani and [present] Mahatma Gandhi Road) opened.

1904
Esplanade to Bagbazar route through College Street opened.

1905
Howrah Station to Bandhaghat route was opened to trams in June. Electrification project completed.

1906
Bowbazar Junction to Binay Badal Dinesh Bag, Ahiritola Junction to Hatibagan Junction routes opened.

1908
Lines to Shibpur via G.T. Road prepared. Esplanade to Shialdaha station via Moula Ali Junction, Moula Ali Junction to Nonapukur, Wattganj Junction to J.Das Park Junction (via Alipur), Mominpur Junction to Behala routes opened.

1910
Shialdaha Station to Rajabazar route opened.

1915
Mirzapur Junction to Bowbazar Junction and Shialdaha Station to Lebutala Junction routes opened.

1920
Strand Road Junction to High Court route opened.

1923
S.C.Mallik Square Junction to Park Circus route (via Royd Street, Nonapukur) opened.

1925
Barhabazar Junction to Nimtala route opened.

1928
Kalighat to Baliganj route opened.

1930
Park Circus line extended to Garhiahat Junction.

1941
Rajabazar line extended to Galiff Street.

1943
The Calcutta system was connected with the Howrah section through the new Howrah Bridge in February. With this extension, the total track length reached 42.0 miles (67.59 km).

1951
The government of West Bengal entered into an agreement with the Calcutta Tramways Company, and the Calcutta Tramways Act of 1951 was enacted. The government assumed all rights regarding the Tramways, and reserved the right to purchase the system (with two years' notice) on 1 January 1972 or any time thereafter.

1967
The Government of West Bengal passed the Calcutta Tramways Company (Taking Over of Management) Act and assumed management on 19 July. On 8 November 1976 the Calcutta Tramways (Acquisition of Undertaking) ordinance was promulgated, under which the company (and its assets) united with the government.

1970
The Howrah sections were closed in October; the 1971/1973 Nimtala route was closed down in May 1973, and realignment of the Howrah Station terminus occurred. Total track length was now reduced to 38 miles (61.2 km).

1980
Tram tracks on Bentinck Street and Ashutosh Mukhopadhyay Road closed for construction of the Kolkata metro; following construction, these stretches were not reopened. Overhead wires were present until 1994 on Bentinck Street. Tracks on Jawaharlal Nehru Road remained after realignment, making a new terminus at Birla Planetarium; the Birla Planetarium route closed in 1991. An overpass was constructed on that road in 2006.

1982
The Sealdah Station terminus (along with the Sealdaha – Lebutala stretch on Bipin Bihari Gangopadhyay Street) closed for construction of an overpass. The site is now occupied by Sealdah Court and a bus terminal.

1985
On 17 April, tracks were extended connecting Manicktola to Ultadanga via Manicktola Main road and C. I. T. Road 3.7 km (2.30 mi). This was the first Tramways extension since 1947.

1986
On 31 December, further extension of tram tracks from Behala to Joka was completed. 1992 Calcutta Tramways Company undertook a new venture by introducing bus service from 4 November, initially with a fleet of 40 buses.

1993
Howrah Station terminus closed and tram tracks removed on Howrah Bridge; the cantilever bridge proved too weak for trams. All routes terminated there were shortened to the Barhabazar (Howrah Bridge) terminus (formerly Barhabazar Junction).

1995
High Court terminus closed for reconstruction of Strand Road. Rails and wires were removed from there and from Strand Road, Hare Street and Shahid Kshudiram Basu Road. The site is now occupied by the newest building of the Kolkata High Court.

2004
Garhiahat Depot – Garhiahat Junction link on Gariahat Road closed for construction of the Gariahat overpass.

2006
Mominpur – Behala stretch on Diamond Harbour Road closed for construction of an overpass at Taratala. Initially, there was a plan to route tracks on that overpass after its completion, but the road was later converted to a National Highway and the plan dismissed. The Behala – Joka stretch is still in existence, along with the Behala terminus.

2007
Wattgunge Junction – Mominpur Diamond Harbour Road, Mominpur – Jatin Das Park Judges Court Road, Jatin Das Park – Kalighat Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Road routes closed for reconstruction. As of October 2011, they have not yet reopened.

2008
Galiff Street terminus realigned. Irregular service from Bagbazar to Galiff Street converted to regular by Route 7/12. Rails and wires removed from part of Bidhan Sarani route (restored by end of year).

2009
Tracks on R. G. Kar Road from Shyambazar five-point crossing to Belgatchia tram depot closed down for reconstruction. As of early 2011, they are not yet restored.Now it was reopened.

2011
Joka-Behala stretch and Behala depot closed down for construction of the Joka-BBD Bag metro project;Ballygunj-Kalighat stretch closed for reconstruction.Lalbazar-Mirjapur down line was closed but up line still opened

^^ Nice pics and detailed info B2C :cheers:, but now since LRTS has been proposed, we may hear about trams even less.

^^Perhaps if they introduce some of those modern Trams which run in the western countries it will pull crowd initially,thereafter if the comfort factor and not to mention the " Oomph Factor " will encourage people to take the Tram ride. And the best part is there is an existing infrastructure..

^^ Nice pics and detailed info B2C :cheers:, but now since LRTS has been proposed, we may hear about trams even less.

The all details time line posted by Bombay2Calcutta was collected & posted by me in 2009 on Wikipedia, but I should correct it soon because the original blue-print map is now in my desk, gifted me by Mr. Shantilal Jain.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1404966

This international thread was created by me. All can post as much as possible about Kolkata’s rail transport, for informing the world about our great systems, and for improving & surviving. THIS IS A GREAT CHANCE.

The all details time line posted by Bombay2Calcutta was collected & posted by me in 2009 on Wikipedia, but I should correct it soon because the original blue-print map is now in my desk, gifted me by Mr. Shantilal Jain.

Ashis - Your efforts are really commendable :cheers: and you are the rightful owner of this thread. I look forward to see the blue print map . Can you please scan and post it here ?

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Ashis - Your efforts are really commendable :cheers: and you are the rightful owner of this thread. I look forward to see the blue print map . Can you please scan and post it here ?

Not possible because of its giant size. I've a plan to create an animated map with time line, and correction at Wikipedia.

http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/8562/img1882.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/651/img1882.jpg/)

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FAKE TRAM, it is not the original horse car stock

Telegraph (http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120724/jsp/calcutta/story_15728790.jsp)

Revamp for tram depot
- Cafe and lights to attract tourists
KINSUK BASU

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120724/images/24mettram5.jpg
The Esplanade tram depot. (Bishwarup Dutta)

The transport department wants to turn the drab and dirty Esplanade tram depot into a tourist spot.

Calcutta Tramways Company has drawn up a blueprint for change, to be effected in two phases. The thrust is on transforming the area along RR Avenue. The means of makeover: better illumination, paved pathways and a modern cafeteria.

The Transport Infrastructure Development Corporation has been asked to oversee the project and efforts are on to engage Mackintosh Burn to execute it. The project is estimated to cost around Rs 2 crore.

“The area around the Esplanade tram depot reeks of neglect. We have decided to transform it in such a way that visitors will go there to enjoy the tram’s glorious past,” transport minister Madan Mitra told Metro.

The project will start with something that should be done even if there is no makeover — removing garbage from a part of the depot where people relieve themselves. New railings, painted in the chief minister’s favourite blue-and-white colour combination, will then be installed around the nine-bigha property.

“This part of the project would cost about Rs 7.5 lakh,” said CTC chairman Shantilal Jain.

In the second phase, the CTC office in the depot, which functions as the control room for tram operations across the city, will be renovated keeping its façade intact. A part of the depot will be landscaped and kiosks set up to sell among other things, tram memorabilia.

The lamp posts in the depot will have a vintage look and a children’s corner will be carved out.

“A multi-level cafeteria will come up at one end of the landscaped garden. The area should be abuzz with people in the afternoons and evening,” said a senior official of CTC.

The makeover plan includes a “passenger shelter” that will have boards displaying tram timings.

Tram ride [caution - a careless biker gets hit but probably not serious]

iBsiUj0k4zA

Telegraph (http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120724/jsp/calcutta/story_15728790.jsp)

Revamp for tram depot
- Cafe and lights to attract tourists
KINSUK BASU

I hope this gets done soon. Earlier Madan announced AC trams with cafeteria and banquets. Looks like Madan blabbers a lot and does nothing.

Found this pic on facebook, couldn't resist posting it.

CC: Sreyan Ghosh

https://www.facebook.com/sreyan

http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/4582/tramc.jpg

^^ Nice Painting... Thanks for sharing :cheers:

^^ Nice Painting... Thanks for sharing :cheers:

I thought it was a photograph.

^^Perhaps if they introduce some of those modern Trams which run in the western countries it will pull crowd initially,thereafter if the comfort factor and not to mention the " Oomph Factor " will encourage people to take the Tram ride. And the best part is there is an existing infrastructure..

Totally agreed! Though there is a bit of rework required to make the rickety tram lines and signalling systems fit for modern Tram/LRT operations, the hassles are way too little in comparison with acquiring land.

And those modern smart trams will be destroyed by ultrasmart citizens of Kolkata. They will tear seat, crash glass, and spit here and there.

Very much modern tram is not suitable for our uncultured city. The current fleet could be modified, but we should need an increased headway, and also much decrease of motor vehicles on those roads where trams are running. It will be both suitable for pedestrians, tram passengers & other vehicles' passenger.

^^ That's a misconception (in my opinion). Volvo buses are running in various Indian cities including Kolkata. Delhi metro rakes are quite swanky but they are not vandalized by people.

ANOTHER OPTION CAN BE METRAIL.

THE WEBSITE FOR METRAIL IS: http://www.metrail.com/

IT HAS MORE ADVANTAGES IN KOLKATA ROADS. ADVANTAGES OF THIS SYSTEM IS GIVEN IN THE WEBSITE.

HT
Trams to be put on fast track Elevated tracks, air-conditioned coaches and much more

NEW DELHI: This is one poriborton no one can dare oppose. The country’s only existing tram system in Kolkata is set for a major revamp. The old, loss-making, sluggish trams that often break down leading to massive traffic jams will make way for state-ofthe-art, swanky, and, most importantly, fast-moving trams or their sophisticated twin, the light rail transit (LRT).

The new trams will travel at around 40 kmph and will be modelled on the latest versions plying in European cities, minister of state for urban development Saugata Roy told HT.

The Institute of Urban Transport (IUT) has prepared a blueprint for the revamp of the century-old Calcutta Tramways Company (CTC). Already, there have been a series of discussions between the state and the central agencies. “The central government is actively encouraging states to create an eco-friendly urban transport network. The Centre has even decided to provide 20% of the money as viability gap funding to the states for tram transport or light rail transit (LRT),” Roy said.
The IUT report, a copy of which is with HT, deals with three issues: the economics of Kolkata’s tram system, scope for its renovation and possibilities of introducing tram-trains (the latest version of trams) in India. The study has pitched for modern trams with air-conditioned coaches for Kolkata. There will be a maximum of three coaches in a tram and the routes will be planned to act as a feeder service to the Metro rail. The report also talks of GPS-based trams to avoid bunching.

A team from the urban development ministry recently visited France, Austria and Turkey to study the tram/light rail transit system in those countries. “In such cities as Paris, Leon, Vienna and Istanbul, trams or LTR forms an integral part of the public transport system. The Asian Development Bank is funding projects for developing tram systems,” Roy said.


The tram also seems to be the favoured mode of public transport worldwide. In the ’40s and ’50s, trams made way for cars with the boom in the automobile sector. But in the ’70s, many western countries brought back trams or the upgraded version, the LRT. Today, 343 cities across 48 countries have an efficient tram/LRT system running.

http://www.igovernment.in/node/43532
ADB aid to revamp Kolkota's tramway system

Renovated trams will have the facilities and features available in the light rail transit (LRT) systems of Paris and Istanbul

Kolkata: Emboldened by the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) interest in streamlining the public transport system in the capital town of West Bengal, the Centre is mulling a massive upgrade plan for putting the most cherished but slow moving trams on the fast track.

If the proposal gets through, Kolktattans would experience the facility and features available in the light rain transit (LRT) system of Paris or Istanbul in their own trams.

The renovated trams equipped with swanky and air-conditioned compartments would travel at the speed of 40 kmph, a senior officer of the State’s Urban Development Department said.

Dejected at the failure of its efforts to keep the sluggish trams running, the State Government had sought the Centre’s role in revamping the century old transport system.

Officials said that the Institute of Urban Transport (IUT) has prepared a blueprint for revival of Calcutta Tramways Company (CTC) based on the pattern popular in other countries like France and Austria.

In keeping with the State’s request, the Centre has already agreed to provide 20 per cent of the money as viability gap funding to upgrade the tram transport. The rest of money would be arranged as loan from the ADB.

As per the proposed renovation plan, worked out by the Institute of Urban Transport, a wing of the Union Ministry of Urban Development, there will be a maximum of three coaches in a tram and the routes will be planned to act as a feeder service to the metro rail.

The trams would also be equipped with GPS system to avoid bunching.

State Minister of Urban Development and Municipal Affairs, Firad Hakim, said that the State government has proposed to undertake LRT renovation in a phase manner in the next few months.

“We have already allocated Rs 150 crore in the budget for revamping the trams system. The rest of fund would be managed from the Centre and ADB,” he said.
—iGovernment Bureau

http://www.igovernment.in/node/43532
ADB aid to revamp Kolkota's tramway system



So what exactly is the Govt. planning to do? Start working on LRT or merely refurbish the old coaches? Only existing tram network should have refurbished coaches, in other areas where there is no tram or metro, there should be LRTS. They also need to buy more tram coaches to give better service.

Hindu Business Line (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/logistics/article3738514.ece?homepage=true&ref=wl_home)
Heritage Tram

The tramways company is in the process of finalising a project report for heritage trams in the city, Jain said. Under the proposed project, CTC is planning to run trams surrounding places such as Victoria Memorial Hall, Race Course and Brigade Parade Ground.

“We have readied a detailed report for the Rs 100-crore heritage tram project. We will submit this report to Union Urban Development Ministry soon,” Jain said.

Hindu Business Line (http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/logistics/article3738514.ece?homepage=true&ref=wl_home)
Heritage Tram

The tramways company is in the process of finalising a project report for heritage trams in the city, Jain said. Under the proposed project, CTC is planning to run trams surrounding places such as Victoria Memorial Hall, Race Course and Brigade Parade Ground.

“We have readied a detailed report for the Rs 100-crore heritage tram project. We will submit this report to Union Urban Development Ministry soon,” Jain said.

Are there any tram lines around Victoria Memorial or Race Course? Instead of wasting money in heritage trams etc. they should procure new coaches with the 100 crores, that will increase the no. of passengers. Madan and CTC seems to be building castles in air every week, when the corporation is bankrupt. :bash:

Why don't the CTC concentrate on this project only,without keeping the UN-Healthy Trams running in other parts of the city.

Let CTC mobilise all its resources(mainly HUMAN resource),in this Project.

Can we think about integrating tram lines at BBD Bag/Sealdah with the Kolkata East West Metro? There are many such examples in the western countries.

Amsterdam Metro 51 comes from Amsterdam Centraal (Central) station through metro line, using 3rd rail power supply. At Amsterdam Zuid (South), it raises pantograph, branches out from Metro Track and joins Street Tram Line - same line that Tram 5 uses - in this line, it is called as a Snel Tram (Fast Tram).

For all practical purposes, this is a light rail train, but can be plied as Metro or Tram by taking advantage of Standard Gauge tracks. Since Kolkata Tram and East West Metro use the same Standard Gauge and these transets are available in the market, is there a possibility that a fast tram runs in the following route?

1. Ballyganj/Park Circus to Howrah Station (by connecting at Sealdah)
2. Bidhan Nagar to Howrah Station (by connecting at Sealdah
3. Sector V to Ballyganj (by connecting at Sealdah) etc.

It sounds complicated, but is going to be cheaper than establishing a new light rail connection along Shyambazar/Bidhan Nagar - Sealdah - Park Circus - Ballyganj route.

The Amsterdam example can be witnessed below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7S5GkD1VswI

Bus and tram fares raised (http://www.telegraphindia.com/1120814/jsp/calcutta/story_15854316.jsp#1)

State buses on routes with a base fare of Rs 4.50 will charge a minimum of Rs 5 from Tuesday. The revised base fare for these routes will be applicable up to a distance of 5km instead of 4km. he base fare for trams has been revised from Rs 3.50 for a distance of up to 4km to Rs 4 for up to 5km. he transport department on Monday issued a notification announcing the revised fares after a meeting of transport operators and the chief minister on Saturday.

Source :

Kolkata Tram Route Map
http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/5627/trammap.jpg




This map is much backdated, there are many routes closed, which are shown operating. E.g. –
1) Now tram is not running towards Behala & Joka.
2) Tram service is closed between Garhiahat depot & Baliganj line.
3) Tram is now not running between Galiff Street & Shyambazar Jn.
4) Route 13, 27, 35, 36 are now closed.
5) Newly opened route 18 is not shown on this map.
6) There are many spelling mistakes, and map errors.
7) Formerly closed tracks on Hare Street, Bentinck Street is not shown on this map.

So I think, publishing such a map will create mis-concept. I request to replace/add this map on the first post.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/85/Kolkata_tram_map.png

This map was drawn by me.

Ashis -You are the owner of the first post. You can do it yourself.

Can't do it because it has edited by indiansuite

We can upgrade our Kolkata Tramways with beautiful landscaping in Saltlake area and Rajarhat-New Town area like this:

http://www.ecostreet.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/tram1.jpg

Can't do it because it has edited by indiansuite

updated.

Manchitra update karar janya anek dhanyabad

We can upgrade our Kolkata Tramways with beautiful landscaping in Saltlake area and Rajarhat-New Town area like this:

http://www.ecostreet.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/tram1.jpg

Wheew - fantasy or real?

Wheew - fantasy or real?

Of course that is a fantasy.

Of course that is a fantasy.

Guess I came out wrong. I meant, "planned?" what I said "real?"...

But yes, sigh, it will probably remain a fantasy forever at this rate. "We" still don't have the vision. :ohno:

I do agree with you .. I do not want to see trams going off the roads in Kolkata . I do agree trams are not required in the busy roads. But they can definitely be planned as feeder routes to the metro and also in the new townships in Rajarhaat and Salt Lake.

I definitely would like to see trams take a more modern look like in Melbourne and Toronto.
Within the Kolkata city limits develop the trams more on a heritage and tourism prespective.

BTW -= I have read that there is heritage tram ride in Kolkata . is it still running ?

The heritage service was not a real heritage service. It was a stylish air-conditioned tram, with high fare, mainly for tourist purpose. Former officials foolishly described it as a heritage service, but it was certainly not.

Heritage service are those systems, where a very old model of tram runs through the present network, like a live history, or trams of those cities/towns where original network was closed many years ago, and now they returned it as a very small system comparing the former network, and uses those old type of rolling stock, but fully restored & refurbished.

Some cities runs only heritage system, some runs both heritage & modern system, often unconnected to each other, some runs heritage tramcars on present network, often for tourists.

Kolkata has never such type of tramcar, so the heritage system is completely false in Kolkata, and it is closed since 2005.

Behala-Joka trams on last lap?

State Decides To Stop Financial Assistance For Route, Cites Upcoming Metro Project

Krishnendu Bandyopadhyay | TNN

Kolkata: The state government has sentenced the Behala-Joka tram facility to death. Well, almost. At a recent meeting, it decided to stop financial assistance for services on that route citing the impending Joka-Dalhousie Metro project.
The Behala-Joka route has already been disjointed from the remaining tram network in the city. It was destined to die after the transport department withdrew tracks from Behala tram depot to Mominpore. The upcoming Metro project also spells doom for the remaining Mominpore-Khidderpore stretch along Diamond Harbour Road.
The eco-friendly Kolkata tram, a city icon, is the only mode of passenger transport of its kind in India. After constructing Taratala flyover, the transport department went back on its promise to revive trams along Diamond Harbour Road. Soon, tracks from Mominpore to Behala were withdrawn, leaving behind tram services only from Behala to Joka.
“Since the Metro track along Diamond Harbour Road will be elevated, tram services will automatically be redundant on that stretch. So, we are gradually making room for construction of the Metro,” said transport minister Ranjit Kundu.
The Behala-Joka route is in a moribund state. There is no tram workshop along the stretch except for a small repair or maintenance bay at Joka which cannot handle any major technical snag. So if a tram develops a major snag, Calcutta Tramways will have no option but to reject it. No wonder, the Behala-Joka service is now down to two trams. “As technical snags are frequent due to the age of trams, services are often seriously disrupted. Sometimes, only one tram plies between Behala and Joka,” said a Calcutta Tramways Company (CTC) employee at Behala depot.
Withdrawal of tracks along Diamond Harbour Road will directly affect three depots. Trams from Ballygunge and Kalighat depots will never reach Esplanade. The government has already spent a huge sum on concretizing tracks along Judges Court Road and remaining stretch of Diamond Harbour Road. “Work was ordered long before the Metro project was announced,” said an officer of Hooghly River Bridge Commissioner (HRBC). However, during construction of the elevated Metro, the entire concretization is likely to be undone, said an expert.
Metro construction will also destroy the tram network from Khidderpore to Esplanade. Like Behala, another disjointed depot will emerge. “Trams from Kidderpore depot can never go to Kalighat or Ballygunge. Trams from the Ballygunge depot go to Tollygunge and Kalighat only. So, Khidderpore, Ballygunge, Tollygunge and Kalighat depots will be cut off from the rest of the network,” said a CTC official.
Snapping a network has longstanding impact on the entire system. “First, a number of routes get abolished. As inter-connectivity is lost, the service is affected. Unreliability of service makes trams a less preferable mode of transport. So, operating these becomes a greater burden for CTC,” said a transport official.

Although tram has closed between Mominpur & Joka, but the Mominpur – Kyderpur stretch is not dead. This stretch along with Mominpur – Kalighat – Tollyganj and Baliganj line is planned to open before Durgapuja.

However, during metro line 3 construction, tram running may be temporary disturbed between Kalighat & Kyderpur, but it is not permanent.

What happened to all those fancy projects announced by Modon and CTC? Banquet trams, elevated trams, speedboats etc.

I want to go on a tram ride along the maidan. Can any one tell me the route and the terminus from where i can board the tram and frequency of such services.

I want to go on a tram ride along the maidan. Can any one tell me the route and the terminus from where i can board the tram and frequency of such services.

ride on the Esplanade-Khiderpore route tram, it cuts through the maidan area, via race course, the best route of the tram network for sure. Used to frequent a lot on this route during clg dayz wid hostel/pg mates, bt v used to board either frm Red road or nr Queensway, by jogging and hopping in :)
i guess u can board this tram from, Esplanade, nr Curzon Park.

Struggle for survival: City's symbol trams to ferry goods (http://lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/getpage.aspx?pageid=2&pagesize=&edid=&edlabel=TOIKM&mydateHid=10-09-2012&pubname=&edname=&publabel=TOI)

Trams a quintessential image of the citys heritage may fall from its position of grace and gravity that is associated with the Raj era.The non-polluting mode of transport will soon be seen ferrying goods.The image of the good old tram trundling along rickety roads and a rain drenched Maidan may vanish forever under the horrific image of a tram full of the stench and stink of fish and vegetables.
Unable to find a suitable plan to resuscitate trams that have been running for over a century,the Calcutta Tramways Company (CTC) will use the second-class compartments of some trams as goods carriage to ferry goods from wholesale to retail markets in different parts of the city.This will make it cheaper for traders and also bring revenue to CTC,said an official.The matter was recently discussed at a meeting in the chamber of transport minister Madan Mitra.
According to a senior official,a few trams will be run early in the mornings and late into the nights for carrying goods from wholesale to retail markets on some of the existing CTC routes.The state plans to begin with Burrabazar and Koley Markets that are already connected by trams.In the next phase,the same will apply for Gariahat market,where CTC authorities are trying to revive the route going from Ballygunge via Gariahat and beyond.
Trams in Kolkata have been running since 1902 and is the oldest operating electric tram in Asia.However,it has been bogged down by severe losses.The cumulative loss of all five transport corporations,including the CTC,is a whopping Rs 600 crore.And now,there are such desperate attempts to keep trams going and reduce the losses somehow.
The Centre recently expressed its eagerness to offer support for the turnaround of trams in Kolkata.However,the CTC has been asked to take measures to earn revenue and narrow the gap between earnings and expenditure.It is also for this reason that the CTC has been devising such plans to increase its earnings.It is also trying to set up a food court at the Esplanade tram depot where an abandoned tram now stands.The plan is to make best use of the old world charm of trams.The CTC even wants to extend some tram routes up to Salt Lake and Rajarhat,where they may be used only for joy rides.The state government is now examining the viability of the project.
We want the tracks to be extended till Rajarhat and Salt Lake.At present,experts are reviewing if the project can be made possible, said Mitra.

DESPERATE MEASURES TO REVIVE TRAMS

Introducing air-conditioned trams Doing away with second class and having same price of tickets for both classes Special packages for trams running on specifi c routes Snacks to be served in some trams during Pujas Using spare areas in tram depots for setting up shopping malls Opening food court in abandoned tram at Esplanade Extending tram tracks on some routes,like Salt Lake and Rajarhat,for joy rides Using second class compartments as goods carriage in some trams

I want to go on a tram ride along the maidan. Can any one tell me the route and the terminus from where i can board the tram and frequency of such services.

Take tram route 36 from Esplanade tram terminus, just beside Esplanade metro station.

In near future, route 24, 29 & 30 will resume operation in this route.

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/4654/tram65c2a9.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/140/tram65c2a9.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

I would like to know when trams like that were built? I think it is 1980's style. They looked quite nice although the emty place beetween two section is very strange - like in a underground train :)

I would like to know when trams like that were built? I think it is 1980's style. They looked quite nice although the emty place beetween two section is very strange - like in a underground train :)

These trams are rebuilt at Nonapukur works. No new trams have been procured after 1982/83. Nonapukur works is rebuilding old trams.

Any update on refurbished trams? Lot of plans were announced earlier.

Found this pic on facebook, couldn't resist posting it.

CC: Sreyan Ghosh

https://www.facebook.com/sreyan

http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/4582/tramc.jpg

Disgusting Painting!! Route 10 is running between Shyambazar & Binay Badal Dinesh Bag via Rabindra Sarani, there is no question for them to come in Dharmatala, again near Shahid Minar, that is South Kolkata tram routes!!!!

Its' just a painting.. It does not need to be technically correct !! That's a beautiful painting and there's nothing disgusting about it. Just don't look at the route number.

^^ True ,the painting is really beautiful. The beauty of the tram has been captured very elegantly..

Ashis Mitra, you yourself called it a painting. Since when did paintings have to reflect or portray reality? As a painting, it is good looking. So lets agree to disagree.

Last Monday I saw a peculear matter. I rode in a tram on route 1 in second class, for 50 paise cheap fare, but I was wondered to see that now both classes are taking same fare!! On second class Rs. 3.50 and Rs. 4 have changed to Rs. 4 & Rs. 5, and on first class Rs. 4 & Rs. 4.5 has changed to Rs. 4 & Rs. 5. All right for avoiding the problem of 50 paise, but transport minister said earlier it will be applied after fitting fans in second classes. I saw surprisingly that there are no fans in second class, but the fare increased!! Is it not a type of cheating??

May be one way, there are some new trams running in Kolkata, which has fans on both classess, so it will be confusing for passengers to pay two types of fare, so they flattened all. But they ought to apply it after keeping their word. It is creating a misunderstanding.

In future, most trams will be converted to single coach, where that coach will be longer than present coach size. Then there wil be no confusion about class. Let see what will happen in future.

I’ve just talked with CTC Chairman, and he told me that –

1) Opening of tram service between Wattganj & Kalighat and between Kalighat Jn. to Baliganj is on early preference, and they are trying to open this route before Durga Puja.

2) Single coach trams are under construction in the workshop. After puja, they will start running.

3) I have also requested to increase tram service from Belgachhia to Dharmatala via Rajabazar, i.e. on Route 12/1. He transferred the phone line to the traffic officer of Belgachhia Depot. I talked to him, and he told me that he will sure try it as far as possible.

READ THIS ARTICLE - what a great!!!!!!!!!

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-08-27/kolkata/33424281_1_trolley-buses-transport-department-overhead-wires

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/5916/transport.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/69/transport.jpg/)

This was the so called ‘heritage tram’ of Kolkata, which was a joke. It was a sophisticated tram with AC coaches, curtains on windows etc. applied. This modification made in Nonapukur workshop. But it was not a heritage tram, because it is a modern version. Heritage trams are those which are on same model as they run almost 70 to 100 years ago. Many cities like Buenos Aires, Lima, and Istanbul (partly) runs it after reopening tram service since their closure in sixties. It is not that, so it is not a heritage tram. Thankfully it is now abandoned.

http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/4410/p4136527.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/690/p4136527.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

Another photo of a new tram, running through Acharya Jagadish Chandra Basu Road, near Sealdah station. This road is served by route 12, 17, 20 & 26 (formerly also route 15). Before 1994, this portion was reserved track, and before 1982, there was a market on the place of road divider, shown left.

http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/8286/kolkatatram.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/51/kolkatatram.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

On the day, when route 24 was running on this route. I hope rode reconstruction will be completed as soon as possible. Before opening the subway system, this route was via current metro route between Esplanade & Jatin Das Park.

http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/8882/newtram.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/690/newtram.jpg/)

A new tram is waiting before entering in Esplanade terminus, photo taken on Lenin Sarani. This road is served by route 1, 5, 12, 17, 21, 22 & 25 (formerly also route 15). Before 1982, tram tracks were on middle of the road, and this road was both way (now one way).

I’ve just talked with CTC Chairman, and he told me that –

1) Opening of tram service between Wattganj & Kalighat and between Kalighat Jn. to Baliganj is on early preference, and they are trying to open this route before Durga Puja.

I dont think its possible to open Ballygunge - Kalighat section by Puja. Still work is going on Gariahat side.

That's good, for the first time I am hearing about trams services starting on a closed route. I hope they do this for other routes as well. It would be great if trams are started at New Town and Salt Lake. Enough space is there and it will improve the transportation to great extent.

The puja is over but this news had skipped the eyes of the forum members


CTC to run tourist trams during Durga Puja (http://business-standard.com/india/news/ctc-to-run-tourist-trams-during-durga-puja/192169/on)

Two trams namely, 'Balaka' and 'Banalata', will cover all the big Pujas in city during their 5-hour long journey
Probal Basak / Kolkata October 20, 2012, 12:30 IST



This year people of Kolkata will have a new transportation option to roam around the city for pandal hopping. The Calcutta Tramways Company (CTC), the operator of Asia’s oldest functional tram services, has decided to run two “tourist trams” in the city during four days of Durga Puja festival starting tomorrow.

The two trams namely - “Balaka” and “Banalata” - will cover all the big Pujas in city during their five-hour long journey.

“This is one of the various steps we are taking to revive popularity of the tram services. These will be well-decorated trams. One will start from Gariahat and another one will be from Rajabazar,” a spokeperson in CTC said. The fare for this “Puja tour in Kolkata” will Rs 50 for each commuter.

The state transport and tourism departments has also put together a plan to introduce “cafeteria trams” in Kolkata by converting four trams into moving hotels. “The cafeteria tram will come in a few months,” the official said.

CTC has also initiated various other steps to generate revenues. There also are plans to introduce AC buses and turn under-utilised tram depots at the city’s prime locations into parking lots.

No more announcements of fancy ideas by Modon or Shantilal Jain? I guess they have run out of ideas. :lol::nuts::lol:

http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=430644&catid=73

Calcutta Tramways Company (CTC) will organise two days tour from 20 November from Kolkata to Chandannagar to visit Jagadhatri puja pandals. The bus fare will be Rs 900 for an AC bus and Rs 450 for a non-AC bus. Tea lunch will be served. CTC has opened a booking counter at Esplanade bus terminus.

Still some trams don't have fans on 2nd coach, but they are claiming fare like first coach.

Still some trams don't have fans on 2nd coach, but they are claiming fare like first coach.

Ashis, you might know that CSTC, CTC and WBSTC are merging. Are there any updates on the fate of remaining tram lines in light of this development?

Now, pay Rs 50 for dirtying Esplanade tram depot
By Debashis Konar, TNN (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Now-pay-Rs-50-for-dirtying-Esplanade-tram-depot/articleshow/17551172.cms)| Dec 10, 2012, 04.23 AM IST

KOLKATA: Be ready to cough up a hefty Rs 50 if you caught attending to Nature's call at the Esplanade tram depot. With a facelift of the area on the cards, the Calcutta Tramways Corporation (CTC) could not have devised a better way to curb errant commuters.

Apart from posters voicing out to people the new law, the CTC has set up two public urinals at the depot. "The rule was imposed by CTC a week ago and thereafter our income has gone up by at least Rs 150 daily. Gradually more people are switching to urinals, as CTC has employed four security men to spot the offending commuters," said Bhola Mullick, who mans a toilet in the depot.

However, Raju Bhakat, who operates another toilet in the area, is not that happy. On Sunday, he pointed fingers at well dressed urinating in the open. Worst still, some passengers were spotted relieving themselves right in front of the notices. "They want to save Re 1 and make the place stink. How do we spruce up the area?" he asked.

When some of the commuters were approached by TOI, they feigned ignorance about the new law. Asgar Ali, a trader from Park Circus, said: "It will be harassing if the security guard catches me and demands Rs 50 as I was not ware of the rule."

With four security guards chasing the commuters and the dirt mostly removed around the depot, the place appears to be cleaner, said some of the regular tram commuters. But there were a few who took advantage of the absence of security guards on Sunday and happily indulged in their old habit.

CTC official Anupam Biswas, however, made it clear that imposing fine was not the ultimate goal. "We don't want to see the area stink and so we counsel them. But it is a tough job to make thousands of people aware and stop them from urinating," he said.

Shantilal Jain, chairman of CTC, said there are plans to beautify the entire area and so they have started cleaning up the tram depot area, including Curzon Park. "We will set up a series of toilets so that passengers have no problem. Even there is a plan for a passengers shed."

He wants to turn the drab and dirty Esplanade tram depot into a tourist spot and thus has planned a museum where a stationary tram will be used to give people an idea about the evolution and history of trams.

Jain said that besides better illumination and paved pathways, there will be a modern cafeteria.

"We plan to install railings and specially designed lights around this nine-bigha property so that the place looks good and people do not urinate. There will be landscaped gardens too and the CTC office will be renovated," he said.

Esplanade tram depot is at last heading for a change, as the open urinal at the heart of the city may come to an end soon, as the CTC authority has started imposing fine of Rs 50 for those urinating in public.

For changing habit of the commuters who used to urinate all around the depot, two new urinals have come up. The urinal operators said that after the CTC imposed this new rule a week ago their income has gone up by at least by Rs 150 daily. So gradually more people are switching to urinals, as CTC has employed four security men to spot the offending commuters, said Bhola Mullick, who mans a toilet in the depot.

However, Raju Bhakat who operates another toilet is not that much happy. As he shows on Sunday how people were standing on the back side of the toilet to urinate. Disgusted with well dressed people skipping the toilet and heading for the bush, he asks how the place can be kept clean. "They want to save Re 1 and make the place stink."

The CTC has already put up posters all around the area to make people aware about the new law. Many passengers were spotted urinating in the open ob Sunday and they feigned ignorance about the new law. Asgar Ali, a trader of Park Circus said he was not aware of the new law. "It will be harassing if the security guard catches me and demands Rs 50," he admitted. Even some passengers were spotted relieving themselves right in front of the notices.

With four security guards chasing the commuters and the dirt mostly removed around the depot, the tram depot appears to be in an improved state, said some of the daily tram commuters. But taking opportunity of the absence of the security guards on Sunday, passengers getting down from the buses were found to be back to their old habits. Some CTC staff said that the area is a bit clean now with the new rule.

Anupam Biswas a CTC official said that imposing fine is not the ultimate goal, but creating awareness is the main issue. "We don't want to see the area stink and so we counsel them. But it is a tough job to make thousands of people aware and stop them from urinating."

Shantilal Jain, CTC, chairman said that they want to beautify the entire area and for that they have started cleaning up the tram depot area including Curzon Park. "We will set up a series of toilets so that passengers have no problem. Even there is a plan for a passengers shed." He wants to turn the drab and dirty Esplanade tram depot into a tourist spot and so he has planned a museum for trams. A stationary tram will be used to give people an idea about the evolution and history of trams.

Jain said that through better illumination, paved pathways he will convert the area. Even a modern cafeteria will come up in another stationary tram from which tea, coffee and snacks will be sold.

"We plan to install railings and specially designed lights around this nine-bigha property so that the place looks good and people do not urinate. There will be landscaped gardens too and CTC office in the depot will be renovated," Jain said.

http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/641/2officers.jpg
http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/9482/2officersandme.jpg

Last week, some tram officials held and urgent meeting at the Esplanade control room, for how to install platforms on those wide roads where tramline is present like Acharya Praphulla Chandra Roy Road, Acharya Jagadish Chandra Basu Road, Syed Amir Ali Aveneue & Shyama Prasad Mukhopadhyay Road. Besdie those 4 officers, there was another man, who is nothing more than a trampagla. He gave 4 printed pages to them, for discuss and impementation. After that, they invite him.

The long haired, blue trousered man is the suggesstion maker. Could anybody guess who is he?

^^ Ashis Mitra

In an attempt to strengthen ties between Australia and India and to make Kolkatans aware of the advantages of trams, Melbourne Tramway Network and Calcutta Tramways Company (CTC) launched the Kolkata- Melbourne Tram Yatra at CTC Esplanade on Saturday.

The body of the tram is painted with pictures of animals found in Australia and India. The special tram, named the Kolkata-Melbourne Tram Yatra, carries pictures of endangered species in its interiors.

From now onwards, the special tram will run across the city. Passengers availing the tram would pay the usual fare.


http://portal.thebengalpost.com/article_images/Kolkata-Melbourne-Tram-Yatra-launched-to-strengthen-ties-162847651355588443anchor.PNG


At the time of buying the ticket, the passenger would get a trump card bearing pictures of animals of different types. Just after the inauguration at the CTC Esplanade terminus, the tram trundled to Shyambazar tram depot. During the journey, former Melbourne Tramway Network conductors Craig Allen and Roberto D’ Andrea distributed trump cards to passengers.

“We are distributing these trump cards to remind people that if we do not control pollution, then a time would come when there would be only pollution in the environment and we would cause immense damage to not only our environment but animals,” Allen said. He explained that after realising the importance of trams, different countries are now toying with the idea of introducing this mode of transportation. “We are here till December 18 and will distribute these cards,” said D’Andrea.

While state transport secretary B P Goplika inaugurated the tram run, additional state transport secretary Ashish Thakur, CTC chairman Shantilal Jain, and other CTC officials were present on the occasion. “We want to promote trams through this Yatra because it is an eco-friendly mode of transportation and is pollution-free. We need to refurbish all trams in the city,” said Thakur. The last Tram Yatra was held in 2005 in Kolkata. “This is the seventh Tram Yatra and I am lucky to be a part of it this year,” said Jain.
The first Tram Yatra was held in Kolkata in October 1996. It was held twice in 1997, once in Melbourne and then in Kolkata. The third and fourth Tram Yatras took place in 2000 in Melbourne and in 2001 in Kolkata.

Source (http://portal.thebengalpost.com/index.php/index/newsdetails/Kolkata-Melbourne-Tram-Yatra-launched-to-strengthen-ties-162847651355588443)

^^ Ashis Mitra

Yes I think it is Ashis only. Good work Ashis, keep it up.

TELEGRAPH (http://www.telegraphindia.com/1121217/jsp/calcutta/story_16322563.jsp#.UM6RnknTnIU)

Green tram with Aussie friends

SOUMITRA DAS


http://www.telegraphindia.com/1121217/images/17metsayantan5.jpg

Craig Allen and (right) Roberto D’Andrea pose with the wildlife swap cards on the eco-friendly tram. Picture by Sayantan Ghosh

A tram with colourful wildlife from both Down Under and India painted on its body trundled out of the Esplanade tram depot late on Saturday morning. Two Australian men dressed in blue shirts and shorts with leather bags slung across their shoulders in the two compartments were pretending to be conductors but handing out swap cards with photographs of animals printed on them instead of tickets.

Children as well as grown ups, some running alongside the compartments, demanded the cards out of curiosity.

The two men are Roberto D’Andrea, a veteran “trammie” and artiste who loves clowning, and Craig Allen, an artist who works for Bush Heritage Australia Private National Park. Both have been here from the first day of this month to raise awareness about pollution and create an eco-friendly tram so that this “clean” mode of transport running on electricity is not junked, as it has been in many cities around the world.

Roberto communicates effectively with his “passengers” with the few words of Bengali he has picked up, or else depends entirely on gestures with a few English words thrown in.

The two men are from Melbourne, the last redoubt of trams in Australia. Roberto D’Andrea, who was a tram conductor by profession, first arrived here way back in 1996 to distribute free fictional Melbourne tram tickets, and was also part of the large team of artists, filmmakers, folk artists and tram activists from both countries that was here in 2001 to launch Tramjatra that had taken the city by storm.

Tramjatra was staged in Melbourne as well. Calcutta and Melbourne, both of which have a shared history having once been the capitals of their respective countries during colonial times, became linked ever since.

Subsequently the Tramjatra book was launched and now the tram activists are back again.

Craig is here for the first time, and he has spent much of his time at the Nonapukur tram depot painting the “Paribeshbandhu tram” with pictures of the kangaroo, koala bear, kingfisher, kookaburra, and tiger and gharial as well, whose photographs were printed both on the swap cards and on the small posters pasted below the roofs of the two tram compartments.

He was assisted by artists who are CTC employees, like Ujjal Dhar, who had participated in earlier Australian endeavours as well.

The cards were created by Connies, a small company Roberto has formed that organises popular festivals and engages with schools to raise environment awareness. They are in Calcutta to celebrate the 10th birthday of the company.

The tram will continue to ply in north Calcutta around Chitpur and Bidhan Sarani even after the two Australians are gone.

TOI (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Govt-apathetic-to-tram-track-woes/articleshow/17645576.cms)
Govt apathetic to tram track woes


KOLKATA: Three years of wait for a mere 3km stretch of tram tracks to be concretised. Yet, there is no hope for commuters or motorists who use Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road.

Leave aside concretisation, Calcutta Tramways Company (CTC) does not have the money to even relay the tracks with cobbled stones. The only solution, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) lays the major thoroughfare with bitumen.

"Two months ago, we sent a proposal to the state government that funds for concretization of the 3km stretch from the Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road-Lenin Sarani intersection to the Elliot Road-AJC Bose Road crossing be released. But we are yet to get a reply," said a CTC official.

This is not the first time, however, that the CTC has sent such a proposal to the state government. It was first sent three years ago to the Hooghly River Bridge Commissioners, which had sanctioned funds to the CTC for the concretisation of tram tracks in 2007. According to a CTC official, 45km of the of city's 57km tram tracks have already been concretised.

"The work started in 2007 and in two years, we completed work on 45km of the tracks. This 3km stretch was not part of the initial plan. But since 2009, we have been submitting proposals to the state government so that this stretch can be concretised. But all requests have fallen on deaf ears," the CTCofficial said.

Under pressure from local residents, the CTC had made some basic repairs of the stretch from the Lenin Sarani to the SN Banerjee Road crossings before the Pujas. "We spent Rs 70 lakh for this repair," said a CTC official. But concretisation of the entire 3km stretch will cost Rs 18 crore, which has no sanction in the CTC's budget.

So, commuters who use the 3km stretch have no option but to suffer the bone-rattling ride. Not only is the short journey on tram routes 22 and 25 painful for commuters, tram drivers sometimes refuse to be assigned on this route for fear of derailments. With scores of yawning gaps between the rails, at least 15 derailments take place every month, said Mohammed Afzal, a tram driver on Route 25 between Gariahat and BBD Bag. And, if the track is not concretised immediately, the situation will go from bad to worse, admitted a CTC official.

But the civic body and the state transport department do not appear too bothered. Soumitra Bhattacharya, the officer on special duty overseeing the KMC roads department, said the civic body had repaired the roads along the tram tracks from time to time. "We will take up the repairs if funds are allotted," a KMC roads department official said.

However, a CTC official maintained that mere repairing of the tracks would not solve the problem. "It will be a sheer waste of public money. What we need is immediate concretisation of the tracks," the official said.

Roberto is still continuing tram friendship with Melbourne since 1996, when I just entered in college.

CTC introduces single-coach trams
24 December 2012
statesman news service
KOLKATA, 24 DEC: The Calcutta Tramways Company (CTC) today introduced the first-ever single coach tram (in sns photo) in Kolkata. This is aimed at increasing the running speed of trams through the congested city streets, said state transport minister Madan Mitra.
The single coach tram was flagged off by the minister from Esplanade tram depot today afternoon and it charted the maiden journey up to Nonapukur.
Built at a cost of Rs 9 lakh at the CTC workshop, the single coach tram has wider windows and is equipped with FM radio. It has seats for 34 passengers and is expected to run at around 50 km speed an hour.
The conventional double coach trams on the other hand is able to ply at barely 15 km speed due to maneuvering problems through congested city streets.
"CTC will introduce 10 more single coach trams in the next few months," Mr Mitra said

Well CTC used to run the single coach trams that were used in Howrah - Shibpore route.

CTC introduces single-coach trams
24 December 2012
statesman news service
KOLKATA, 24 DEC: The Calcutta Tramways Company (CTC) today introduced the first-ever single coach tram (in sns photo) in Kolkata. This is aimed at increasing the running speed of trams through the congested city streets, said state transport minister Madan Mitra.
The single coach tram was flagged off by the minister from Esplanade tram depot today afternoon and it charted the maiden journey up to Nonapukur.
Built at a cost of Rs 9 lakh at the CTC workshop, the single coach tram has wider windows and is equipped with FM radio. It has seats for 34 passengers and is expected to run at around 50 km speed an hour.
The conventional double coach trams on the other hand is able to ply at barely 15 km speed due to maneuvering problems through congested city streets.
"CTC will introduce 10 more single coach trams in the next few months," Mr Mitra said

Well CTC used to run the single coach trams that were used in Howrah - Shibpore route.

Finally some good news regarding trams. Single coach ac trams are also needed.

Any pic available for single coach trams, haven't came across one yet.

TOI (http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-12-25/kolkata/35999064_1_tram-kolkata-streets-class-system)
Finally, the classless streetcar trundles on Kolkata streets

KOLKATA: Finally, the Communists dream for a classless society has materialized. At the behest of the Mamata Banerjee government, that is.


On Monday, for the first time in 112 years, there was only one tram class in Kolkata and one fare - Rs 4 as Calcutta Tramways Company (CTC) introduced the first-ever single coach tram in Kolkata. The single coach tram was flagged off by transport minister Madan Mitra from Esplanade tram depot and it charted the maiden journey up to Nonapukur.

Built at a cost of Rs 9 lakh at the CTC workshop, the single coach tram has wider windows and is equipped with FM radio. It has seats for 34 passengers and is expected to run at around 50 km speed an hour.

The conventional double coach trams on the other hand is able to ply at barely 15 km speed due to maneuvering problems through congested city streets.

The class-distinction in tram coaches started during the British era and continued after Independence. Initially, trams had one coach and the spilt took place in 1900. A tram ride was a true lesson in class difference in Kolkata during the 50s and 60s and the distinction continued even after Calcutta Tramways Company was nationalised in 1978. The Left Front government tried, but failed to abolish the class system during its 34-year-rule.

ZaySunNTD5A

CTC told me that double coach trams will remain, but single coach also be added to current stock-list. So it means number of trams will increased in future.

CTC told me that double coach trams will remain, but single coach also be added to current stock-list. So it means number of trams will increased in future.

That's good news, but it would be great if they can make some trams ac.

High-speed trams on way
BS (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/high-speed-tramsway/496757/)Reporter / Kolkata Dec 26, 2012, 00:25 IST

Calcutta Tramways Company (CTC) has decided to replace the existing operating trams by one-bogie high-speed ones.

The operator of Asia’s oldest functional tram services has already launched one such tram. The 35-seater tram, which will initially run between Esplanade and Rajabazar area, is capable of run at a speed of 60km per hour. Apart from this, another one-boggey tram will run on weekends and public holidays.

“We are trying to revive the tram services, The new trams will have comfortable seats. We are transforming the trams from two bogies to a single bogie. As it is a one-coach tram the traffic issues can also be avoided,” West Bengal transport minister Madan Mitra said.

Accoprding to Mitra, CTC is working on a project to replace all the operating multi-coaches trams by the new one-bogie trams. “Also, we will soon introduce AC version of the one-boggey trams,” he added.

The state transport and tourism departments has also put together a plan to introduce “cafeteria trams” in Kolkata, which the minister said, are in the process of being developed. “It is taking time as we have to keep a lot of things in mind. An electric pan will be installed on the tram fencing a small area of the compartment where coffee or tea would be prepared. Also, fire extinguishers will be installed to avoid mishaps while setting up the cafeteria. In a couple of months two such trams will be ready,” he said.

According to CTC chairman Shantilal Jain, currently, the company operates 125 trams in the city carrying 15,000 passengers daily.

Apart from replacing existing trams with new models, the government has also asked CTC to renovate all its depots in the city. “CTC has a decent amount of land in prime areas of the city. Once the depots are rebuilt, it will be easier for us to identify the unutilised land,” Mitra said.

The state government has already proposed to commercially utilise the idle land in the city, owned by variois state transport corporations, including CTC

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l4bNR0Dyczw

An Old school tram

http://s9.postimage.org/cs65is17z/DSC03259.jpg (http://postimage.org/image/jimms7odn/full/)
upload pics (http://postimage.org/)

20 years ago this would have been in the Museum only happens in India. Hope no one gets Tetanus Poisoning....Sorry i had to say that. We need to change...and fast.

I saw a single bogied tram near Seldah flyovr....really hot....and it is does not make that head pain inducing noise, like the older trams.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Off-track-with-little-hope-of-return/articleshow/17947807.cms

Five years ago, tram services on Hazra Road were suspended so that the tracks could be concretized and commuters spared the daily ordeal of a bone-rattling ride. The work on the tracks was completed, but people could never enjoy the smoother journey. That's because the services were never resumed. Five years on, the concretized tracks are in a shambles - badly broken in most places and resembling a pile of cobblestones in some.

Uttam Chatterjee, a lawyer practising at Alipore court, complained of being a regular sufferer on the broken tram tracks and bad condition of road near Gopalnagar. "I was told that the track has been dug up for resuming tram services. However, even after a month, there's no sign of any repair on this stretch," Chatterjee said on Tuesday. Incidentally, Gopalnagar is only a couple of minutes' drive from chief minister Mamata Banerjee's Kalighat residence.

Auto-rickshaw driver Raju Sheikh, who plies his vehicle between Hazra and Kidderpore via Gopalnagar, claimed his business was suffering losses due to the condition of the road, particularly the heavily damaged stretch near Gopalnagar. A Calcutta Tramways Company (CTC) spokesperson on Tuesday said the area had been dug for relaying the tracks near Gopalnagar. A 500-metre stretch of the track will be concretized to resume services on this route, the official said. Tracks will be re-laid along a 100-metre stretch at Ekbalpore, too.

But why weren't the services along Hazra Road resumed for so long? The official explained that a sewerage upgrade project of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has kept services on hold along three profitable routes on the road - Tollygunge-Esplanade, Kalighat-Kidderpore and Ballygunge-BBD Bag - for four years with the civic body missing one deadline after another since 2009. The original project was supposed to be completed in a year.

On the other hand, services on the Tollygunge-Ballygunge route have also remained suspended for four years now as the same project - under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) - is under way on Rashbehari Avenue, too. The KMC hasn't even handed the stretches back to CTC. Now, the civic authorities apparently plan to remove the layer of concrete.

Besides the huge revenue loss, CTC authorities feel it is a cultural and social loss, too. "Tram cars are lying unutilized for years. Employees have no work. But above all, we have lost dedicated passengers who we could not serve for all these years," said a senior CTC official. Pleading helplessness, he explained that it was not possible to put trams back on these routes till the KMC gives the green signal. "I have written several letters to the KMC, urging them to wrap up the work fast. But no one knows when we'll get back these routes," he said.

In fact, KMC authorities gave no hope that the Rashbehari Avenue and Hazra Road routes would be handed over to CTC in the near future. A senior civic official blamed it on the delay in executing the sewerage project. The Rs 500-crore scheme was meant to modernize and rehabilitate underground sewerage lines along some major city thoroughfares like Rashbehari Avenue, Hazra Road, Canning Street and Beadon Street. However, after reviewing the progress of work, the Centre has made it clear that it won't give KMC additional funds unless reasons for the abnormal delay and consequent cost escalation are explained in detail.

"We have no idea when we can hand back these routes to the CTC. We'll have to float another tender to complete the de-silting project," said the KMC official.

Atin Ghosh, the mayor-in-council member overseeing roads, however, assured that all major roads with tram tracks would be repaired thoroughly.

Paying tribute to Swami Vivekananda, Calcutta Tramways Company (CTC) will launch its first air-conditioned single-bogie tram on February 2 from CTC’s Esplanade terminus. According to the Bengali calendar, February 2 coincides with Magh 19, 1419 Tithi, the day on which Swamiji’s 150th birthday falls.

“We want chief minister to inaugurate the air-conditioned single-bogie tram. We will write a letter to her in the next week requesting in this regard,” said CTC chairman Shantilal Jain. He explained that on the occasion, the president of the Ramakrishna Mission at Belur Math would also be invited. State transport minister Madan Mitra and senior transport department officials are also expected to be present. “We have not yet decided on the name of the air-conditioned single-bogie tram but the name would be based on the teachings of Swami Vivekananda,” said Jain.

The non-air-conditioned single-bogie tram was inaugurated on December 24, 2012 and was named after Maa Saradha. The main intention of introducing an air-conditioned tram is to attract tourists and spread awareness among people about the importance of an eco-friendly mode of transport,” Jain said.

The air-conditioned tram would run all across the city and can also be reserved by anyone for birthday parties and similar events.

The air-conditioned single-bogie tram is a lookalike of the non air-conditioned version. The 35.5-foot-long blue and white non-air- conditioned tram has a seating capacity for 34 with compact seats and 17 windows. On February 2, two other trams, a non-passenger exhibition tram on Swami Vivekananda and a passenger tram on Swamiji would also be inaugurated.

Bengal Post (http://portal.thebengalpost.com/index.php/index/newsdetails/CTC-to-launch-its-first-AC-single-bogie-tram--412377381357834201)

The dream of a mother to organise a birthday party for her son in a tram became a reality on Wednesday. Yes, the non-air-conditioned single-bogie tram named Maa Saradha was the birthday party venue for three-year-old Shantanu Kothari.

“We wanted to celebrate our son’s birthday party in a unique way which is why we selected the tram. One of our friends suggested that the tram would be best venue. Last December, we read in newspapers that a single-bogie tram has been launched in Calcutta,” said Sangeet Kothari, the mother and a resident of Alipore.


All the relatives and friends came to the Gariahat tram depot from where the birthday tram started its journey. At 4.20 pm, the tram left the depot and headed towards the Park Circus seven-point crossing carrying 27 adults and 27 children. From the crossing, it headed towards CTC’s Esplanade terminus and again retried to the starting point.


http://portal.thebengalpost.com/article_images/Balloons-magic--a-tram-Perfect-birthday-gift-417864681357834422tram.PNG

Along with snacks, centres of attraction during the party were a magic show and tattoo session for the children. While the magician performed tricks such as silk from where, paper to notes, miser’s dream, spirit writing and vanishing milk, the tattooist drew designs of Sinchan, Mickey Mouse, Goofy, Pooh and Dorimon on the children’s hands.


“I was very excited to come to the party and I liked the paper to notes magic and enjoyed the whole trip,” said Avantika, a small child with a winning smile. “We tried to launch a totally new concept. I am overwhelmed with the children enjoying my grandson’s birthday in a unique way,” said S B Kothari.


The grandfather said that his family was inspired by the single-bogie tram which saw its inauguration on December 24, 2102 and contacted CTC chairman Shantilal Jain for reservation of the Maa Saradha tram 10 days before Shantanu’s birthday. “We are always ready to offer any tram for such events,” said Jain.

Bengal Post (http://portal.thebengalpost.com/index.php/index/newsdetails/Balloons-magic--a-tram-Perfect-birthday-gift-417864681357834422)

Paying tribute to Swami Vivekananda, Calcutta Tramways Company (CTC) will launch its first air-conditioned single-bogie tram on February 2 from CTC’s Esplanade terminus. According to the Bengali calendar, February 2 coincides with Magh 19, 1419 Tithi, the day on which Swamiji’s 150th birthday falls.

“We want chief minister to inaugurate the air-conditioned single-bogie tram. We will write a letter to her in the next week requesting in this regard,” said CTC chairman Shantilal Jain. He explained that on the occasion, the president of the Ramakrishna Mission at Belur Math would also be invited. State transport minister Madan Mitra and senior transport department officials are also expected to be present. “We have not yet decided on the name of the air-conditioned single-bogie tram but the name would be based on the teachings of Swami Vivekananda,” said Jain.

The non-air-conditioned single-bogie tram was inaugurated on December 24, 2012 and was named after Maa Saradha. The main intention of introducing an air-conditioned tram is to attract tourists and spread awareness among people about the importance of an eco-friendly mode of transport,” Jain said.

The air-conditioned tram would run all across the city and can also be reserved by anyone for birthday parties and similar events.

The air-conditioned single-bogie tram is a lookalike of the non air-conditioned version. The 35.5-foot-long blue and white non-air- conditioned tram has a seating capacity for 34 with compact seats and 17 windows. On February 2, two other trams, a non-passenger exhibition tram on Swami Vivekananda and a passenger tram on Swamiji would also be inaugurated.

Bengal Post (http://portal.thebengalpost.com/index.php/index/newsdetails/CTC-to-launch-its-first-AC-single-bogie-tram--412377381357834201)

Finally an AC tram in Kolkata. I bet it will be hugely popular from March onwards. Can't wait to see a pic of the single coach tram. Single coach trams are not only quicker but takes less space on road and while turning. But they should seriously think of starting tram services within SL and NT. There is enough space there for tram tracks.

TELEGRAPH (http://www.telegraphindia.com/1130121/jsp/calcutta/story_16464800.jsp)
Tram-track peril sparks protest

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1130121/images/21metrd4_175330.jpg
The part of the tram track that reared up on Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road on Sunday morning. (Sanjoy Chattopadhyaya)

A portion of a tram track along Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road came loose from the ground and reared up on Sunday morning, injuring a couple on a bike and triggering a two-hour blockade by residents who wanted the stretch to be repaired immediately.

According to witnesses, a couple fell off the bike in front of the Peace Haven mortuary around 10.45am because the track under the tyres moved.

Both sustained injuries on their hands and legs but left the place before police arrived.

Residents stopped vehicular movement on the road for two hours and straightened the bent track from 11am.

At the same spot last month, a part of the track that had reared up had tripped and injured a young woman and her one-year-old son, leading to protests by 150 residents.

“Senior officials of Calcutta Tram Company had then promised to repair the tracks as soon as possible but nothing was done. Several accidents have happened in the 40 days since then because of the condition of the stretch,” said Haji Ashfaq, who owns a glass shop in the area. The police said at least 100 people blocked the road and uprooted at least 15 metres of the damaged track.

“We have been demanding for six years that the tram tracks be concreted on the road but the authorities have only been giving us false assurances,” said Pervez Shiekh, another resident.

Tram company sources said the tracks on the 1km stretch on Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road had not been repaired for several years.

After last month’s protest, the authorities said the plan for concreting and renovating the tracks had been cleared by the state government. On Sunday, an official said neither the plan was ready nor had the permissions needed from the traffic department taken. Even the tenders had not been floated.

“Tracks cannot be repaired just like that. It takes days to properly plan the process and get permission to stop traffic. We are working on the project and will hopefully finish the renovation work before the monsoon. But it is not possible to specify when we would start the renovation,” said Shantilal Jain, managing director, CTC.

^^ This is height of callousness by CTC. On top of that the Chairman is giving stupid excuses to justify the callousness. Let chairman drive over that track and see how it feels in his a$$. :bash:

Bleeding Calcutta Tramways Company to flag off 'white elephants'
TNN (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Bleeding-Calcutta-Tramways-Company-to-flag-off-white-elephants/articleshow/18158731.cms)| Jan 24, 2013, 04.18 AM IST

KOLKATA: The Calcutta Tramways Company (CTC) might be surviving on subsidy, but that hasn't stopped it from making grand plans that will burn a bigger hole in its pockets.

With the CTC finding it difficult to find funds for the daily maintenance of an old fleet, more and more tram cars are being taken off the road. But it has gone ahead and made plans to introduce an air-conditioned tram, a banquet tram and a tram museum, which will bring little revenue to the PSU's coffers and eventually be financial liabilities, admitted CTC officials. The company is solely dependent on an annual subsidy of nearly Rs 200 crore.

The CTC plans to introduce an air-conditioned tram and two museum trams in February. "We want chief minister Mamata Banerjee to flag off these trams," said CTC chairman Shantilal Jain. But who would ride an AC tram and what would be the fare? "By next week, we will finalise the fare," he added.

CTC officials, however, are apprehensive that operating and maintaining an AC tram would be like rearing a 'white elephant'. "These will bleed us further," rued an officer. One of the tram museums will also be air-conditioned.

According to Jain, the tram museums will be dedicated to the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. "These trams will ply from one depot to another and create awareness among citizens on this great saint." What he failed to explain was how exactly a tram museum would jack up revenue when heritage trams like Balaka and Banalata are incurring huge losses because of lack of patrons.

"We have a little option but to explore newer avenues of earning. The AC tram is only a part of that exploration," said Jain. But a majority of transport experts felt it would be too costly an exploration to undertake. Before embarking on any such venture, there has to be viability study. "How can one start a venture without a study? It has become a matter of whims and fancies," fumed a senior transport department officer.

The CTC currently has 6,500 employees and 950 pensioners. The monthly salary bills stand at Rs 10.5crore, while the pension bill is Rs 83lakh. Tickets fetch Rs 12.5lakh per month. So there is a yawning gap between earning and expenditure. In 2012-'13, the plan budget allocation for CTC was 12.5crore. But so far, it has only received Rs 3.21crore.

"So, for lack of maintenance funds and spare parts, an increasing number of trams is being taken off the road. At the same time, it has left 900 of the 1,200-strong engineering and maintenance department employees idle," divulged a CTC official. The salary of employees is due over a month and pension is due over two months.

Currently, not even 50% of CTC's fleet is in operation. Of the 272 trams, only 125 (or 46%) are plying. According to CTC sources, the remaining 54% is awaiting renovation. But they have been taken off the road due to shortage of funds.

Desperate to turn things around, CTC was looking forward to commercial utilization of its land resources in Kolkata to generate revenue. The CTC has around 43 acres in at least eight prime locations in the city. But KPMG, which carried out a viability survey of these properties, have advised the government to resolve the issues first, before going for commercial utilization of these landed properties lying with the transport PSUs. The survey found that the papers were not in order and some properties were caught in a legal tangle.

AC tram is being launched in Kolkata. It will have automatic doors. It will also have mobile charging points. There will be 36 cushioned seats. :cheers::cheers:

http://imageshack.us/a/img20/9706/2cal5.jpg

বিদ্যুতের বিল-বাবদ বকেয়া প্রায় ১৪ কোটি টাকা। কর্মীদের বেতন দেওয়ার টাকা নেই। প্রাপ্য দেওয়া যাচ্ছে না অবসরপ্রাপ্তদেরও। অর্থাভাবে সারানো যাচ্ছে না অচল ট্রাম। তার মধ্যেই এ বার এসি ট্রাম পথে নামাচ্ছে ট্রাম সংস্থা। এমনিতেই ধীর গতির যান বলে যাত্রী হয় না। তাই যাত্রী টানতেই এই উদ্যোগ বলে দাবি সংস্থার।
বুধবার নোনাপুকুর ট্রাম গুমটিতে গিয়ে দেখা গেল, বিভিন্ন ছাউনির নীচে অচল ট্রাম দাঁড়িয়ে। চার দিকে হরেক পোস্টার। সে সবে নিয়মিত বেতন, মহার্ঘভাতা, প্রভিডেন্ট ফান্ড, গ্র্যাচুইটি প্রভৃতি মেটানোর জন্য কর্মী সংগঠনের দাবি। এ সবের মাঝেই ট্রামের কামরার পিছন দিকে বসছে এসি। সাফসুতরো করা হচ্ছে ফাইবার গ্লাসের রঙিন জানলা।

অর্থাভাবে অচল ট্রাম সারাই হচ্ছে না। কাজ পাচ্ছেন না কয়েক হাজার কর্মী। কিছু রুটে পরিষেবা বন্ধ। এই অবস্থায় এসি ট্রামের পিছনে লক্ষ লক্ষ টাকা ব্যয়ের যৌক্তিকতা কোথায়? পরিবহণমন্ত্রী মদন মিত্রের দাবি, “বাম আমলের অপরিকল্পিত কাজের মাসুল দিতে হচ্ছে ট্রাম-সহ পরিবহণ নিগমগুলিকে। পরিস্থিতি এত জটিল যে, রোগ সারানোর দাওয়াই পাওয়া যাচ্ছে না। তার মধ্যেই যতটা সম্ভব ট্রামকে যাত্রীদের কাছে আকর্ষণীয় করার চেষ্টা হচ্ছে।”
ক্যালকাটা ট্রাম কোম্পানির (সিটিসি) চেয়ারম্যান শান্তিলাল জৈন দাবি করেছেন, “ভোলবদল এবং নানা পরিকল্পনার মাধ্যমে ট্রাম আগের চেয়ে জনপ্রিয় হয়েছে। বেড়েছে যাত্রী। ‘বলাকা’ এবং ‘বনলতা’ নামে দু’টি হেরিটেজ ট্রাম চলছে ছুটির দিনে। ব্লক-বুকিংও হচ্ছে। চালু হয়েছে ‘সারদা’ নামে ঝকঝকে এক-কামরার ট্রাম।”
কিন্তু কোন রুটে এই ট্রাম চলবে, ভাড়া কত হবে, তা ঠিক হয়নি এখনও। শান্তিবাবু বলেন, “যাত্রী-আগ্রহ কতটা, তা বুঝতে প্রথমে নির্দিষ্ট কিছু রুটে ঘুরিয়ে ফিরিয়ে চালানো হবে নতুন এই ট্রাম।”
সংস্থা সূত্রে খবর, সাধারণ ট্রামের চেয়ে আয়তনে অল্প বড় এসি ট্রাম। সাধারণ ট্রামে ২৫ জনের বসার আসন থাকে। এগুলিতে থাকবে গদি-মোড়া ৩৬টি আসন। ৩৬ ফুট দীর্ঘ, ৭ ফুট চওড়া এবং ভিতরে ৭ ফুট উঁচু এই ট্রামে থাকবে মিউজিক সিস্টেম, মোবাইল চার্জার। চালকের দরজার পিছনে ছোট্ট আলমারিতে থাকবে জলের বোতল। প্রয়োজনে যাত্রী বিস্কুটও কিনতে পারবেন কন্ডাক্টরের থেকে। চলন্ত ট্রামে ইচ্ছেমতো ওঠানামা করা যাবে না। কারণ স্বয়ংক্রিয় দরজার নিয়ন্ত্রণ থাকবে চালকের হাতে।
ট্রাম-কর্তৃপক্ষের দাবি, এই পরিকল্পনার মাধ্যমে যাত্রীদের আগ্রহী করা সম্ভব হচ্ছে। এমনিতে ট্রামে টিকিট বিক্রি করে দিনে বড়জোর দেড় হাজার টাকা ওঠে। সেখানে সাজানো ট্রাম ভাড়া দিয়ে ৩ ঘণ্টায় পাওয়া যাচ্ছে ৫ হাজার টাকা। “এই ট্রামে হয়তো তিন ঘণ্টায় ১০ হাজার টাকা ভাড়া পাব”, বলছেন শান্তিলালবাবু। তিনি আরও বলেন, “পাশাপাশি এ বছরের মাঝপর্বে চালু হবে ট্রামে ভ্রাম্যমাণ ‘কাফেটেরিয়া’।-টালিগঞ্জ এবং টালিগঞ্জ-মোমিনপুর রুটে ট্রাম ফের চালু হবে শীঘ্রই। স্বামী বিবেকানন্দের জীবন নিয়ে ট্রামে বিশেষ প্রদর্শনীরও ব্যবস্থা হচ্ছে। সিটিসি-র বিভিন্ন ডিপোয় এটি দেখানো হবে

http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/4376/actramatactcworkshop.jpg

^^ Ashis Mitra

:D Good one...... I went to Nona Pukur workshop a year back on a cold day and guess what??? i found the workers taking sunbath instead of working.... i went there at 12.30 pm and came about around 3.30 pm. till that time all were in the same place on the courtyard..... gopaal bharer pipu pishu er theke o olosh maal gulo.... pension gratuity baaki aache thakuk... ei shob lokeder aam jonotaar tax theke faaltu maine diye laabh nei....

Kolkata to get banquet and cafeteria trams
Tuesday Feb 12, 2013

Read more: http://india.nydailynews.com/business/bdd18bf29cd35b16c494ed359b658fa3/kolkata-to-get-banquet-and-cafeteria-trams#ixzz2Khh4GKhA

Kolkata, Feb 12 — Facing annual losses of Rs.200 crore, the 132-year-old Calcutta Tramways Company, which runs the fleet of heritage vehicles long identified with the metropolis, is mulling a host of new proposals including leasing out its land and setting up banquet and cafeteria trams to revive its fortunes.

"While our revenue is just Rs.50 crore, our expenses exceed Rs.250 crore leaving us with an annual loss of Rs.200 crore each year. The only way to reduce this loss is to lease out the vast tract of idle land for public utilities like parking lots, hospitals, etc," CTC chairman Shantilal Jain said Tuesday.

"The CTC has nearly 43 acres of land in eight of its depots spread across the city. We have sent the proposal for the lease to the (West Bengal) government and a decision is expected soon," he said.

Participating in an interactive session organised by the Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Jain said the company is in process of introducing "banquet and cafeteria trams" as well as introducing tracks in satellite Salt Lake town.

"We currently operate around 32 km of track length and are in the process of introducing tram services in Rajarhat, Bantala and New Town," said Jain adding that the banquet and cafeteria trams might involve private participation.

The other proposals made to rev up the services include introduction of single bogie and air-conditioned trams as well as special trams covering the heritage sites in the city. The AC trams are likely to be introduced by March this year.

The CTC which also runs buses, will be acquiring 100 more of the vehicles soon.

It is also in talks with foreign tram companies for organising an international convention to spread awareness about the heritage transport service.

Ever since the first horse-drawn tram of the city rolled out on metre gauge tracks on Feb 24, 1873, the 'heritage wheels' have virtually become a logo of Kolkata.

Formed in 1880 and registered in London on Dec 22 that year, the CTC was taken over by the West Bengal government in the 1970s.


Read more: http://india.nydailynews.com/business/bdd18bf29cd35b16c494ed359b658fa3/kolkata-to-get-banquet-and-cafeteria-trams#ixzz2KhgqCAok

http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/4376/actramatactcworkshop.jpg

Is that the Carrier AC? Looks like break-n-fix craftsmanship. Is that AC really meant for a moving vehicle like this TRAM?

Can't believe this.

What is the craze with cafeteria and heritage trams, can't CTC run new trams for regular passengers?

http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/kolkata/AC-trams-to-hit-roads-before-summer/Article1-1011598.aspx

This summer you can enjoy a special joyride in the city in Kolkata’s heritage mode of transport. Calcutta Tramways Company (CTC) is launching its first single coach air-conditioned mobile cafeteria tram. If everything goes well then the new trams will hit city roads by April, said CTC


officials. According to them, CTC got a fund of R15 lakh from the state government for launching a mobile cafeteria tram that will feature several modern facilities including LCD screen, Wi-Fi mobile charger and so forth.
“Initially we will run only one mobile cafeteria tram. If we get good response from passengers and public we might introduce a few more cafeteria trams,” said CTC chairman Shantilal Jain.

However, CTC is reportedly groaning under huge loss and irregular salary payment of its employees due to money crunch for a couple of years. In May 2012 CTC, for being the biggest loss maker mode of transport among all, got an ultimatum from chief minister Mamata Banerjee. CTC officials initiated to renovate four trams into mobile cafeterias after getting ‘either be self sufficient or get phased out’ threat from the chief minister.

Transport minister Madan Mitra even announced of launch these mobile cafeteria trams before October 2012. But according to CTC officials, “the technical difficulties delayed the project” last year. Finally the deluxe tram is being given its final touches at Nonapukur tram workshop.

“A five-ton air-conditioned machine will be set in the tram. There will be an LCD screen too where cultural programmes on Tagore songs and drama, folk music will be played constantly,” said Jain.There will be around 34 deluxe seats in the tram with attached trays. The mobile cafeteria tram will also serve cookies, chocolates and snacks to its passengers.

“There will be a snack box and refrigerator containing mineral water bottles inside the tram. Commuters have to pay separately to avail food and water,” said Jain.

The CTC officials are assuming that the fare of this mobile cafeteria tram will be around R20 and it will run at different parts of the city including BBD Bag, Gariahat, Shyambazar, Park Circus and so on. But it will not run in Kidderpore area since CTC is revamping the old trams tracks in the area.

Following chief minister’s proposal CTC launched two special trams in reverence of 150-year birth anniversary of Swami Vive kananda on Wednesdayf rom the Esplanade tram terminus.

“Two special trams namely ‘Bibek Tirtho’ and ‘Paribrajak’ were flagged off by transport Madan Mitra on Wednesday. ‘Bibek-Tirtho’, a museum tram on Swami Vivekananda will be at different parts across the city including Garihat, Howrah Bridge, Bagbazar, Esplanade and so forth for public viewing while ‘Paribrajak’ will be a passenger tram that will run from Esplanade tram terminus. Both the trams will function till April 15,” said a CTC official.

http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/4376/actramatactcworkshop.jpg

With that Split A/C, it seems to be some kind of a Jugad technology.

why cant they do something to start the tram services in South kolkata? It seems tram services in South kolkata is over for good. The behala route is now history. The stretch between tollygunge and ballygunge is closed for ages even after concretization etc... this route was so popular. The only route open is kalighat to tollygunge which carries five to six passengers. Crazy people.

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1130301/jsp/calcutta/story_16617531.jsp
Trams that pollute!
OUR LEGAL REPORTER

The state pollution control board will have to measure the sound pollution caused by trams

The high court on Thursday asked the pollution control board to measure the sound pollution caused by trams during the day and at night and file a report within 15 days.

The division bench of Chief Justice Arun Mishra and Justice Joymalya Bagchi also asked the government to stop the use of air horns across the state within six weeks.

The court directed the board to measure the sound pollution caused by trams running on tracks laid on asphalt and concrete separately.

The enumerators will have to categorise the findings according to speed and state separately the pollution caused by the engine and the body of a tram.

The order came during the hearing of a case on air pollution in the city at night. Environment activist Subhas Datta, who had filed the case in 2007, submitted that the level of air pollution in the city at night was much higher than the daytime figure.

“Heavy vehicles like lorries and Matadors are allowed in the city at night. That’s the reason for the spurt in air pollution at night,” Datta had earlier submitted.

When the case came up for hearing last week, the court pointed out that sound pollution, too, was high in the city at night and asked the pollution control board to file a report on it.

The board’s report filed on Thursday reiterated the court’s observation.

Datta pointed out during the proceedings that trams, which ply between 4.30am and 12.30am, were contributing to sound pollution in the city.

Another source of sound pollution, especially on the city outskirts and districts, is air horns, Datta pointed out. The bench then issued the order on measuring sound pollution caused by trams and stopping the use of air horns.

With that Split A/C, it seems to be some kind of a Jugad technology.

yes. the way these idiots work is as follows:

1. some stupid idea comes to an idiot politician's mind
2. his/her chamchas get into a huddle and compete amongst themselves who can please the boss
3. the chamchas come up with absurd ways to implement the stupid idea
4. the idiot politician thinks the stupid idea has now got some traction, gets excited, and finally spells out how to get that stupid idea done
5. the professionals - urban planners. engineers, architects etcetera - suck their thumb as they watch the drama. finally they do what the idiot tells them to do.

"jugad", btw, is a code word for sub standard, third class, inefficient technology.

Our politicians also belong to the "jugaad" category.

http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=447148&catid=73

Buyoed by the success of single-bogie tram, the Calcutta Tramways Company Ltd (CTC) is all set to extend a similar service in other parts of the city.
Confirming the news, the Managing director of CTC, Mr Nilanjan Sandilya, said that more single-coach trams will be introduced in congested parts and in areas where passenger turnout is negligible in double coach trams. He, however, hinted the complete changeover to single-bogies cannot be ruled out.
"It would be too early to say that the single coaches will replace the double bogies, but a complete change cannot be denied in the near future,"
Moreover, he refused to acknowledge that trams cause traffic congestion and added the areas where tram facility has been stopped due to civic works has led to encroachments by illegal parking.
Besides, the company is also planning to re-operate the services on several routes closed due to civic works.
"We are mulling to re-start some viable tram routes ~ such as Mominpur-Hazra via Eqbalpur, Kidderpore-Gopalnagar-Esplanade, Tollygunge-Howrah Bridge ~ across the city," said a CTC official refusing to comment about the specific time period for the start of service.
According to sources, a little over 100 trams are on tracks compared to over 200 around two decades ago.
Apart from coming up with air-conditioned-bogies, a joyride for tourists, in co-operation with tourism department, the CTC has plans to run AC coaches for the commuters, but obviously with an increased fare, he said, adding more trams will certainly help the cash-strapped CTC to generate additional revenues, added the official.
The CTC, a state government undertaking spends Rs 250 crore a year to earn nearly Rs 50 crore in revenue from passenger fares and ad revenues (both tram and bus services). The company, however, receives an annual subsidy of about Rs 200 crore from the state government.
The transition, meanwhile, drew mixed reaction from the people for whom trams have been an integral part of their memories.
"The change will never fade away the old memories of childhood when a sense of pride for getting a chance to travel in the first class was visible on our faces," said Mr Suryanarayan Banerjee, an octogenarian, going down to the memory lane.
Many others, however, felt the change is necessary in view of the rapid increase in traffic in the city, "Traffic movement has increased manifold over the years, so it is necessary to have a potable system transport. The trams will definitely stay but with a slight modifications," pointed out Mr Amit Sadhwani, a student. :cheers:

yes. the way these idiots work is as follows:

1. some stupid idea comes to an idiot politician's mind
2. his/her chamchas get into a huddle and compete amongst themselves who can please the boss
3. the chamchas come up with absurd ways to implement the stupid idea
4. the idiot politician thinks the stupid idea has now got some traction, gets excited, and finally spells out how to get that stupid idea done
5. the professionals - urban planners. engineers, architects etcetera - suck their thumb as they watch the drama. finally they do what the idiot tells them to do.

"jugad", btw, is a code word for sub standard, third class, inefficient technology.

Upon seeing the current financial condition of CTC, they have the ability to rely on these "jugad" technology only. Also I am not finding anything wrong in it. At least they are trying to revive CTC, be it with the help of "jugad" technology. As long as it can do better, I don't have any problem against it.

Tramways hopeful of better days ahead
Indira Kanjilal, TNN (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Tramways-hopeful-of-better-days-ahead/articleshow/19352505.cms)| Apr 3, 2013, 02.06 AM IST

KOLKATA: Shantilal Jain took over the chairmanship of The Calcutta Tramways Company in 2011. Apart from heading a prestigious post of the chairman of a 113-year-old heritage institution, he had also inherited, along with the role a whole gamut of problems that gave him sleepless nights.

The Metro was at large to give it competition and so were the AC CTC buses as a faster transportation option for a faster lifestyle that the city was getting used to.

Jain had to have a workable solution for all these problems and he first looked at ways to generate more revenue to keep the trams going.

"It is still a very viable option. We still are connected in some of the main tracks like Shyambazar, the Maidan, College Street and Esplanade and also Park Circus. But the Howrah connectivity is lost. We do not run the tram on the bridge anymore."

Jain rules out privatization. He thinks the railways and even CTC has a good infrastructure, a very efficient workshop at Nonapukur where trams are still being rolled out — he thinks a lot can be done. "One cannot work away from the people. The customer comes first and we even tried to rent out our special trams like Banani and Bonolota for birthday bashes, unique marriages etc and our workers too realized the importance of what we had and worked to preserve its glory," he adds.

This summer might see AC trams on city streets. Talks are on with the tourism department and the advertisers. The idea of a cafeteria is also being planned.

The Urban Development Ministry of the government of India has conducted a survey, he says, and presented a report on the Renovation of Calcutta Trams — The Light Rail Transit System and is willing to finance any new projects for this heritage institution. The state is also busy beautifying the banks of the Ganga and once again we might be able to hitch a ride to Outram Ghat or Babughat. These projects are all in the pipeline, says Jain. There is every possibility of tram routes linking Rajarhat, New Town, Bantala, he adds.

Personnel officer Aniruddha Bhattacharya, in charge of the Nonapukur tram workshop is extremely upbeat about the future.

"With the oil crisis a reality, we have a readymade alternative for the transport system," he adds. The trams are still extremely well-loved in the city where buses carry you at breakneck speed and lives are lost at the drop of a hat.

Relish Kolkata's history with a comfy tram ride
Suman Chakraborti, TNN (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Relish-Kolkatas-history-with-a-comfy-tram-ride/articleshow/19570924.cms)| Apr 16, 2013, 04.21 AM IST

KOLKATA: Tourists and citizens with a taste for history will soon be able to enjoy a comfortable joyride around the city in an air-conditioned tram, munching on tasty snacks and appreciating the heritage structures.

The state tourism department and Calcutta Tram Company (CTC) will jointly launch the mobile AC restaurant in a 28-seater single-compartment tram. The idea is to promote heritage tourism.

State tourism secretary Vikram Sen said such tram rides were last operated five years ago. "There will be a north Kolkata and a south Kolkata trip every day," he said.

The north Kolkata trip will be in the morning and the south in the evening. The former will start from Esplanade and terminate at Shyambazar five-point crossing. It will move along the streets of north Kolkata where tourists will be able to enjoy views of heritage structures.

In the evening, the tram will take the south Kolkata route from Esplanade to Kidderpore, passing by Victoria Memorial. Tourists will be allowed to get off for a while and take a stroll on the Maidan surrounding Victoria.

Tourists will be greeted with various mouth-watering snacks on board. Officials said though the fare has not yet been fixed, it could be Rs 100 per head. If the experiment is successful, the authorities will extend the rides.

The tourism department has been trying to develop heritage and eco-tourism in the state by promoting several places that are rich in heritage but relatively unknown. For instance, the Adina mosque in Malda is known to be among the largest in the world. These places could be developed as attractive heritage tourism sites by encouraging foreign tour operators, particularly from East Asia, to operate heritage tourism trips. Several urban and rural haats are being set up in several districts where handicrafts will be sold

Copyright Images: Calcutta Tram Company

Enjoy Kolkata's heritage with an AC tram ride

18 Apr, 2013
Suman Chakraborti; TNN (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/slideshows/spending-lifestyle/enjoy-kolkatas-heritage-with-an-ac-tram-ride/slideshow/19609582.cms)

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/thumb/msid-19609549,width-652,resizemode-4/mobile-ac-restaurant.jpg
Mobile AC restaurant
The state tourism department and Calcutta Tram Company (CTC) will jointly launch the mobile AC restaurant in a 28-seater single compartment tram. The idea is to promote heritage tourism.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/thumb/msid-19609552,width-652,resizemode-4/north-kolkata-trip.jpg

Tourists and citizens with a taste for history will soon be able to enjoy a comfortable joyride around Kolkata in an air-conditioned tram, munching on tasty snacks and appreciating the heritage structures.

The north Kolkata trip will be in the morning and the south in the evening. The former will start from Esplanade and terminate at Shyambazar five-point crossing.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/thumb/msid-19609546,width-652,resizemode-4/enjoy-heritage-sites.jpg
It will move along the streets of north Kolkata where tourists will be able to enjoy views of heritage structures.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/thumb/msid-19609548,width-652,resizemode-4/evening-trip.jpg

In the evening, the tram will take the south Kolkata route from Esplanade to Kidderpore, passing by Victoria Memorial.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/thumb/msid-19609542,width-652,resizemode-4/get-down-any-time-to-take-a-stroll.jpg
Tourists will be allowed to get off for a while and take a stroll on the Maidan surrounding Victoria.

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Tourists will be greeted with various mouthwatering snacks on board.

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Officials said though the fare has not yet been fixed, it could be Rs 100 per head. If the experiment is successful, the authorities will extend the rides.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/thumb/msid-19609544,width-652,resizemode-4/tram-rides.jpg
State tourism secretary Vikram Sen said such tram rides were last operated five years ago. "There will be a north Kolkata and a south Kolkata trip every day," he said.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/thumb/msid-19609543,width-652,resizemode-4/promoting-tourism.jpg
The tourism department has been trying to develop heritage and eco-tourism in the state by promoting several places that are rich in heritage but relatively unknown.

^^^^^^
The red and silver design was better.. they could hav tried that one...
Chalo kuch to banayaaa.... :)

These trams are looking really nice. Hope the service becomes popular so that the Govt can introduce more such trams in the city.

Copyright Images: Calcutta Tram Company

Enjoy Kolkata's heritage with an AC tram ride

18 Apr, 2013
Suman Chakraborti; TNN (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/slideshows/spending-lifestyle/enjoy-kolkatas-heritage-with-an-ac-tram-ride/slideshow/19609582.cms)

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/thumb/msid-19609552,width-652,resizemode-4/north-kolkata-trip.jpg

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/thumb/msid-19609555,width-652,resizemode-4/snacks-on-board.jpg


We urgently need an industrial design institute in the city or somewhere nearby. How can they design something so claustrophobic? Can't they see specimens on the internet? Can't we learn from elsewhere? Which idiot put the words "Air Conditioned" in the front? As if this is an animal from another planet? This is beyond mediocrity.

http://i48.tinypic.com/2iqo38n.jpg

http://i50.tinypic.com/27xihxw.jpg

We urgently need an industrial design institute in the city or somewhere nearby. How can they design something so claustrophobic? Can't they see specimens on the internet? Can't we learn from elsewhere? Which idiot put the words "Air Conditioned" in the front? As if this is an animal from another planet? This is beyond mediocrity.

http://i48.tinypic.com/2iqo38n.jpg

http://i50.tinypic.com/27xihxw.jpg

there look...these trams had both got an old world charm and yet are modern.... seriously where is the aesthetic quotient for these guys...? can't they have a jv with companies like Alstom or Volkswagen for designs?

there look...these trams had both got an old world charm and yet are modern.... seriously where is the aesthetic quotient for these guys...? can't they have a jv with companies like Alstom or Volkswagen for designs?

They don't have money to pay the employee salaries. Where will they get the money to put in a JV? Besides unions will oppose it. They are trying their best with their engineers who have learnt engineering in 70s.

They don't have money to pay the employee salaries. Where will they get the money to put in a JV? Besides unions will oppose it. They are trying their best with their engineers who have learnt engineering in 70s.

what about the PPP method they bank and shout on every possible project? if they can do for bus transit, why not trams...plus they themselves have explored quiet a number of attractive tourism offers as well..... it can easily attract investments....!

what about the PPP method they bank and shout on every possible project? if they can do for bus transit, why not trams...plus they themselves have explored quiet a number of attractive tourism offers as well..... it can easily attract investments....!

I hope so! That's the only way they can do something world class. They only have to find a MNC or a private party to put in their money in a Partnership with CSTC.

I hope more of these trams are run on regular basis, not just for heritage purposes, but for commuting as well. They can keep the fare high.

I thing we should cheer that we have at least got something . Although this is not upto international standard , but did we expect anything high profile from cash crunched organization ?

were these pics of Kolkata taken in 1950's?

^^ no in 2013. :lol:

What! ...this is just like the scenes from Indian movies made in 1950's

What happened to our great Indian city????

What happened to our great Indian city????

Its dying Sir...:ohno:

Still it has the 3rd largest GDP as regards Indian Cities...Just think what will when it comes alive again

I simply fail to understand why are we not appreciating an effort to revive the tramways inspite of the huge financial crunch.... Negativity seems to give us a kick....

I simply fail to understand why are we not appreciating an effort to revive the tramways inspite of the huge financial crunch.... Negativity seems to give us a kick....

It's the poltical culture of Bengal. Mamata backers were at the forefront of negativity for last two decades peaking in between 2008-2011. Now Mamata opponents are paying back in the same coin.

Notice how the auto nearly misses the tram

DwXhC3ro3es

Notice how the auto nearly misses the tram

DwXhC3ro3es

this location in the video seemed not too bad just until this tram showed up...wow, what an eyesore. I think just by getting rid of this tram, the city would start looking nicer.
I don't know much about this tram...so I was wondering how useful is this tram? how many people use it daily? and how good is its connectivity?

this location in the video seemed not too bad just until this tram showed up...wow, what an eyesore. I think just by getting rid of this tram, the city would start looking nicer.
I don't know much about this tram...so I was wondering how useful is this tram? how many people use it daily? and how good is its connectivity?

I completely disagree with this comment. These autos who violate the "Stop Line" (like this one in the video) should be heavily fined. The number of autos on the streets should be reduced (atleast where there're no metro/trams), and services of trams should be increased. That will actually make the city look nicer.

this location in the video seemed not too bad just until this tram showed up...wow, what an eyesore. I think just by getting rid of this tram, the city would start looking nicer.
I don't know much about this tram...so I was wondering how useful is this tram? how many people use it daily? and how good is its connectivity?

Kolkata trams should be preserved with renewed enthusiasm, using better designs, and providing supporting infrastructure.

Trams are an integral part of Kolkata and the tram network is an asset for the city. Kolkata is the only city in India to have trams.

Kolkata trams should be preserved with renewed enthusiasm, using better designs, and providing supporting infrastructure.

Trams are an integral part of Kolkata and the tram network is an asset for the city. Kolkata is the only city in India to have trams.

I agree with you on your point.

I think just by getting rid of this tram, the city would start looking nicer.
I don't know much about this tram...so I was wondering how useful is this tram? how many people use it daily? and how good is its connectivity?

And then you are saying that you agree that Trams are an integral part of Kolkata and the tram network is an asset for the city.

What are you trying to say UDHL?

Those trams need to be done away with!! They serve no purpose. They are slow, do not have an exclusive right of way meaning they are basically competing for the same space, are not maneuverable etc. Its better to increase the number of buses instead which have a far better connectivity and similar capacity.