Plans afoot to turn heritage tram from Esplanade to Kidderpore in Kolkata
Shamayita C (BOMBAY TIMES; November 7, 2020)

The lush green of Maidan, along with the colonial architecture and hustle and bustle of the City of Joy, are all part of the experience if you take an idyllic tram ride from Esplanade to Kidderpore. The route — number 36 — that used to offer arguably the most picturesque slice of Kolkata, had to be closed down temporarily after Cyclone Amphan messed up the overhead wiring in May this year. Now, after restoration of four of the six tram routes that the cyclone had impaired, the buzz is that route 36 may become operational soon. “There is also a plan to introduce a heritage tram on this route. This might add on to its popularity,” a West Bengal Transport Corporation (WBTC) official said.

The fourth route —Shyambazar to Howrah — resumed in September after the Tollygunge-Ballygunge, Rajabazar-Howrah Bridge and Gariahat-Esplanade routes were reopened.

Tram services have been closed since the Coronavirus lockdown started in March. The engineering section of WBTC has been working to restore the overhead wires destroyed by Amphan. Even tram tracks were damaged by fallen trees during the cyclone.

However, a group of tram commuters, who love the pollution-free transport system, is sceptical about the idea of running a heritage tram on route 36. “We fear that the new heritage tram route might replace the Esplanade-Kidderpore route altogether. We might lose a popular route completely. A lot of such routes, including Behala and Joka, have already gone into oblivion. But we want to retain tram depots and routes. Besides being our heritage, trams are still an economical, peaceful and sustainable mode of commute for Kolkatans. They should be an essential mode of transport; not merely a symbol of the city’s heritage,” said Debasish Bhattacharyya, president, Calcutta Tram Users Association.

It’s worth mentioning here that trams have been used time and again in movies to symbolise Kolkata and its rich heritage. From Kahaani to Bullett Raja and from Mahanagar to Praktan — umpteen films have featured iconic scenes involving trams, especially ones plying over the picturesque route 36.

CELEBS DISCUSS THE TRAM-CINEMA CONNECT


‘TRAMS WERE AN INTEGRAL PART OF MY CHILDHOOD’

I used to live near the Kalighat tram depot and trams were an integral part of my childhood. Obviously, the tram ride in Praktan was an iconic scene. We took route 36. We also shot in a tram for Limelight. My character, a struggling actress, takes a tram to go and meet directors. During one such ride, she dreams of becoming a big star one day — Rituparna Sengupta


‘A SCENE ABOUT KOLKATA IS INCOMPLETE WITHOUT A TRAM’

Tram route 36 has everything a filmmaker wants. Whichever way I move my camera, I get nice shot. The lush greenery of the area also brings in all the elements of romance. The route is very romantic in my opinion. With its heritage and the attached nostalgia, I feel a scene about Kolkata is incomplete without a tram. — Raj Chakraborty


‘A TRAM RIDE SLOWS DOWN THE PACE OF EVERYTHING’

It was the first time I sat in an actual local tram. This tram was like 100 years old, it’s like a time machine. It has got a very nice and romantic feel to it. It slows down the pace of everything. It makes you want to stop and look. It was a very dreamy tram... — Sonakshi Sinha