The CTUA, which represents more than 500 members, will assemble at BBD Bagh at 2 pm, urging citizens to join while shouting slogans such as “Don’t take away trams from our roads” and “Save Trams”. CTUA spokesperson Prasenjit Basak said the demonstration would be peaceful and open to all who view tramways as a vital part of Kolkata’s transport and heritage.
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State Transport Minister Snehasis Chakraborty has defended the government’s decision, arguing that trams contribute to congestion and are incompatible with modern transport priorities. He has confirmed to the High Court that while some tramcars may be preserved for heritage value, their operational role in the city will continue to shrink.
Introduced in 1873 as horse-drawn carriages, Kolkata’s tramways made history in 1902 as Asia’s first electric tramcar service. For decades, they defined the city’s identity and provided an eco-friendly commuting option. However, the network has suffered a steep decline: from 37 routes in 2011, to only two that remain today.
Official records show that the tram lines have been reduced from 61 km in 2011 to just 12 km in 2022. Passenger numbers have also collapsed from over 70,000 daily commuters a decade ago to only a few thousand at present.
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Despite this decline, supporters argue that trams remain an environmentally friendly and culturally significant mode of public transport. The upcoming protest reflects their determination to keep the city’s historic carriages running, even as authorities push for more modern alternatives.
(Edited by : Jerome Anthony)
