Why are trams still running in Kolkata?

The network initially had up to 37 lines in the 1960s, but has gradually reduced over the years with only six lines currently operating due to financial struggles, poor maintenance, low ridership, addition of road flyovers, expansion of the Kolkata Metro, slow tram speed and perceptions that the trams are outdated and …

Do trams still exist in Kolkata?

Kolkata’s trams are the first in Asia and are currently the only ones operating in the continent. Starting in 1880 with the establishment of the Calcutta Tramways Company (CTC), trams in the city over the years, under successive governments, have been neglected. Tramcars at Tollygunge depot in Kolkata.

Which is the only city in India where trams are still in use?

Calcutta
Trams in Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), West Bengal are operated by the West Bengal Transport Corporation (WBTC). It is the only operating tram network in India and the oldest operating electric tram in Asia, running since 1902.

Who invented tram in Kolkata?

The East India Company first started a tram service between Sealdah and Armenian Ghat Street on February 24, 1873. But for reasons unknown, the service was discontinued within nine months. It was finally in 1880 — seven years later — that the Calcutta Tramways Co Ltd was formed and registered in London.

When did trams start in Kolkata?

1902
Calcutta also witnessed its initial trams being driven by horses. The tram cars were imported from England. Calcutta was the first city in Asia to get the electric tram. The service began in 1902 between Esplanade and Kidderpore.

Which Indian city has world’s 1st tram library?

Kolkata
Kolkata has got its first Library on Wheels that will run on a tram. The Kolkata Young Reader’s Tramcar, started jointly by the West Bengal Transport Corporation (WBTC) and Apeejay Anand Children’s Library. The one-of-its-kind tram library programme was launched on November 14, 2020, a day dedicated to children.

Does Calcutta have trams?

Calcutta Tramways Company (CTC) is a state-run company that operates trams and buses in and around Kolkata (formerly known as Calcutta) in West Bengal, India. The Kolkata tram is the only operating tramway in India and is the oldest electric tram in India, operating since 1902. CTC has been merged into WBTC since 2016.

When did trams start in Calcutta?

Who invented trams?

The world’s first electrically operated streetcar, one of Werner von Siemens’ major innovations, was inaugurated on May 12, 1881 in the Berlin suburb of Gross-Lichterfelde. The 2.5-kilometer-long line connected the Lichterfelde station with the military academy.

Where did India’s first TYRE park is to come up?

West Bengal
West Bengal will soon feature “India’s first” ‘Tyre Park’, where artworks made from scrap and defective parts will be on display, a state minister said.

How many trams are there in Kolkata?

It is the only operating tram network in India and the oldest operating electric tram in Asia, running since 1902. There are 257 trams in total, of which 125 used to run daily on the Kolkata streets, but now only 35 trams run daily.

When were the first trams introduced in India?

Trams in India were established in the late-19th century. Horse-drawn trams were introduced in Kolkata in 1873; electric trams began in Chennai in 1895, and trams were also introduced in Mumbai, Nashik, Kanpur, Kochi, Patna and Bhavnagar. They were discontinued in all Indian cities between 1930 and 1970, except for Kolkata.

Did Patna ever have horse-drawn trams?

Patna had horse-drawn trams as urban transport. The tram in Patna ran in the populated area of Ashok Rajpath, from Patna City to Bankipore, with its western terminus at Sabzibagh (opposite the Pirbahore police station). It was discontinued in 1903, due to low ridership, and plans to extend the route westward never materialised.

What is the history of Mumbai’s public transport system?

A mass public-transport system for Mumbai (then Bombay) was proposed in 1865 by an American company, which applied for a licence to operate a horse-drawn tram system. Although a licence was granted, the project was never realised due to the city’s economic depression. The Bombay Tramway Company was set up in 1873.