Where have all the trams gone?
The heritage ride took place on a refurbished rail scrubber (Rs 2).
Tram lovers in Kolkata will be able to enjoy enhanced connectivity of the city’s iconic transport system soon, as the mobilisation work to revive the tram network from Esplanade to south and north Kolkata has started under the initiative of the West Bengal Transport Corporation (WBTC).
The WBTC has decided to revamp a stretch of around 800m tracks in various directions from Esplanade, which is a major junction of tram services in the city. Once done, it will enable the revival of important tram networks to the south and north of the city from central Kolkata.
Notably, in the year 2016, a few tram services from Esplanade had to be suspended because of the EastWest metro work.
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Services were truncated when the tracks near Curzon Park had to be removed because of the metro station at Esplanade. The network, once revived, will allow services to be started to Nonapukur tram depot, Shyam Bazar and Belgachhia, to name a few. “For running services from places like Tollygunge and Ballygunge, the line from Nonapukur first has to be connected to Esplanade, which was difficult due to the ongoing metro work,” pointed out a CTC official.
Although the planning to revive the tracks was done last year, work could not be started as the tunnel boring machines (TBM), ‘Rachna’ and ‘Prerna’ were stationed at Curzon Park.
However, after the TBMs were removed, work in and around Curzon Park is to be started soon. The execution of the revival plan is being done by HRBC and the tender has also been issued, according to an official of the transport department. “The mobilisation work including gathering of machines and other materials is now being carried out by the contractors,” informed the official. “The fullfledged work will start once the mobilisation process is over,” he added.
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