The West Bengal government on Tuesday faced a huge setback during the hearing of a PIL for preservation and restoration of tram services in Kolkata. The state has long expressed its intent to phase out trams, citing their slow speed and contribution to traffic problems in the congested City of Joy and financial unviability.
Recognising trams as an integral part of Kolkata’s cultural heritage, the Calcutta High Court division bench, led by Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmoy Bhattacharya, strongly directed the state to restore the “tram tracks which were illegally bituminised”.
The court instructed Kolkata Police to investigate alleged tram track removals and demanded a detailed report with photographs of restoration work. It noted that tram tracks could not have been removed without consent from higher authorities.
In June 2023, the High Court directed the state to form a committee including transport officials, the Calcutta Tram Users Association, a state heritage commission member, tram enthusiasts, and a climate activist to explore preserving trams in Kolkata. The court had earlier also asked the state to consider modernising the tram system.
On Tuesday, the committee submitted its report where the West Bengal government clarified that no transport department order had sanctioned covering tram tracks.
“After we study the order, then we will prepare the report and inform the court accordingly,” West Bengal Transport Minister Snehasis Chakraborty told THE WEEK. “The court has asked us to submit a report that we will do. But we will have to see first if any tram line can at all be preserved.”
The Calcutta High Court Bench of the Chief Justice further instructed that the expert committee would continue to meet and there should be “political will” to preserve trams. The transport minister, meanwhile, stated that it was not the responsibility of the committee to decide on the city’s transportations.
“West Bengal is number one in India in terms of running eco-friendly transports. Fast-moving metro is the ideal substitute for trams that we have in the city.” Chakraborty said. “What kind of transports are to be operated in the city that must be left on the elected government to decide.”
The minister also cited the periodic phase down of tram services in Kolkata from 37 to 19 in the Left Front era and further to three currently. He argued that slow-moving trams are incompatible with today’s fast-paced traffic. "We do not intend to continue with trams but plan to maintain only a heritage route between Esplanade and Maidan," he said.
Chakraborty further revealed that the state government had received a request from Canada to send two trams from Kolkata to Vancouver as a representation of the city’s heritage. Since the tram-related issue is sub judice, the state cannot make a decision at this time. The high court has directed the government to submit a fresh appeal on the matter.
However, tram lovers and activists have wholeheartedly welcomed the Calcutta High Court’s pro-tram observations on Tuesday. “The court spoke loudly in favour of the tramways and that ensures the future of this transport from abolition,” said Debashish Bhattacharya of CTUA.
The association conducts awareness campaigns throughout the year across the city, gathering signatures as proof of the enduring love ordinary citizens have for trams.
“Now we may breathe freely and try for its restoration, maintenance and modernisation as directed by the court. It appears that tramways is getting justice against corruption,” Bhattacharya added.
